2009 World Maritime Day

Transcription

1 2009 World Maritime Day Friday, October 16, 2009 PORT LEVEL EVENT PLANNING GUIDE Organized with cooperation from

2 Table of Contents Letter from the Commandant... 3 What is World Maritime Day 2009? 4 What is the theme of World Maritime Day 2009?... 5 How does climate change impact Marine Transportation?.. 6 What can my port do for World Maritime Day 2009?. 8 Plan a meeting Host an event with a guest speaker Recognize the efforts of industry Hold a training session/seminar Sponsor an information campaign Arrange tours of the port or a local ship Broadcast panel discussions from the New York Parallel Event Host a science fair Sponsor a children s drawing competition Organize a community contest of environmental initiatives Develop a World Maritime Day Treasure Hunt Points of Contact & Helpful Links 11 World Maritime Day - Port Level Event Planning Guide 2

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4 What is World Maritime Day 2009? Each year, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) hosts a World Maritime Day celebration in London. In addition, the IMO asks one of their Member States to host a corresponding celebration in another country, called a Parallel Event. These events focus attention on the importance of shipping safety, maritime security and the marine environment and emphasize a particular aspect of the IMO s work. In previous years the Parallel Event has been held in Barcelona, Singapore, Salvador (Brazil) and Athens. As the Commandant mentioned in his letter, the United States is hosting the Parallel Event for Based on the leadership role within some of IMO s key committees, the Coast Guard is the principal organizer for the United States. A team from the Coast Guard Headquarters Directorate of Standards (CG-52) has been assembled to run the project. The World Maritime Day Parallel Event will be held in New York City from October 16 th to October 18 th, The CG Foundation and the North American Marine Environment Protection Association (NAMEPA) will help support the New York Parallel Event. It is scheduled to kick-off the day after the CG Foundation s 29th Annual Salute to the United States Coast Guard dinner on October 15 th. The New York Parallel Event will begin with a delegate s conference (panel discussion) for invited guests as well as a green ship expo, science fair and ship tours for both invited guests and the interested public. The ship tours are expected to remain open throughout the weekend of October 17 th -18 th. Obviously, not everyone can attend the World Maritime Day Parallel Event in New York, and it is important to expand the activities throughout the country, so we urge you to create an event in your port. Plus, having everyone who works in the maritime community travel to the Event would not be a sound strategy for reducing the industry s impact on climate change. This guide was designed to help you plan such a World Maritime Day event for your port. World Maritime Day - Port Level Event Planning Guide 4

5 What is the theme of World Maritime Day 2009? The theme for this year s World Maritime Day Parallel Event is Climate Change. Not a day goes by when the subject of our environment is not at the forefront of our media and our thoughts. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), climate change refers to any significant change in measures of climate (such as temperature, precipitation, or wind) lasting for an extended period (decades or longer). 1 The aspect of climate change which gets the most publicity is global warming, or the increase in the temperature of the Earth s atmosphere. NOAA and NASA have data which show the Earth s average surface temperature has increased by about 1.2 to 1.4 F in the last 100 years. In addition, the eight warmest years on record (since 1850) have all occurred in the last 10 years. 2 Global temperatures are expected to continue rising as humans add more greenhouse (heat-trapping) gases to the atmosphere. Everyone, including the maritime industry, must respond to these changes. There are already maritime initiatives underway which are designed to reduce impacts on the environment. World Maritime Day is the perfect opportunity to share these initiatives and to recognize the importance of industry s contributions to environmentally responsible maritime transportation of the world s goods. It provides a chance for education, discussion, sharing ideas and planning for the future. The more ports which hold a World Maritime Day event, the more progress will be made towards environmentally responsible shipping, and the more the public will come to recognize the contributions of the maritime industry to their world and their environment World Maritime Day - Port Level Event Planning Guide 5

6 How does climate change impact Marine Transportation? Scientists know that human activities are changing the composition of the atmosphere, and that the increase in the concentration of greenhouse gases will change the climate. Unfortunately, it is difficult to identify exactly what the effects of climate change will be (both positive and negative), or which regions will feel the greatest impact. Despite this uncertainty, the 2007 Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change concluded that the net costs for all regions are likely to be significant and increase over time. 3 Climate change does not just mean that glaciers are shrinking or that the range and distribution of plants and animals is shifting. According to the EPA, climate change will have direct impacts humans which may include 4 : Increases in health problems, such as respiratory issues and risk of infectious diseases Changes to agriculture and food supply Displacement of populations in certain regions In addition to the issues described above, climate change will have specific consequences for the maritime industry. Some effects could be positive, others will be negative. In 2008, the Transportation Research Board issued Special Report 290, titled Potential Impacts of Climate Change on U.S. Transportation. This report examined climate changes of particular importance to transportation, their probability of occurrence, and the impacts on the various transportation sectors. The report points out that climate changes are not just a problem for the future; we are seeing effects today. Even if the world took drastic measures to stabilize or eliminate greenhouse gas emissions right now, we would still feel some climate change effects from our emissions during the past century. 5 The table on the next page outlines some of the Transportation Research Board s results. 3 IPCC, 2007: Climate Change 2007: Impacts, Adaptation, and Vulnerability. Contribution of Working Group II to the Third Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change [Parry, Martin L., Canziani, Osvaldo F., Palutikof, Jean P., van der Linden, Paul J., and Hanson, Clair E. (eds.)]. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, United Kingdom, 1000 p Transportation Research Board Special Report 290: Potential Impacts of Climate Change on U.S. Transportation. Transportation Research Board, Washington, D.C., 2008, 234p. (The Coast Guard does not endorse this product.) World Maritime Day - Port Level Event Planning Guide 6

7 Potential Climate Change Increases in very hot days and heat waves Decreases in very cold days Increases in Arctic temperatures Later onset of freeze, earlier onset of thaw Sea level rise Increases in intense precipitation events Increases in drought conditions for some regions Changes in seasonal precipitation/river flow Increases in hurricane intensity Estimated Probability of Occurrence Very likely 90 % Virtually certain 99 % Virtually certain 99 % Virtually certain 99 % Virtually certain 99 % Very likely 90 % Likely 66 % Likely 66 % Likely 66 % Predicted Impacts on Maritime Transportation Variability in year-to-year shipping conditions Lower Great Lakes water levels (higher costs) More ice-free ports Less ice accumulation on vessels & docks Less ice fog Improved access to remote areas Possible new northern shipping routes Higher costs for ice-capable ship designs Higher costs for search & rescue support Longer shipping seasons Higher tides & storm surges Raising of dock/wharf levels Reduced bridge clearances & more openings Some channels more accessible-deeper water Some channels more restricted-sedimentation Raising or constructing jetties & seawalls Possible elimination of some waterways Increases in weather related delays Flooding of facilities/infrastructure Flood related waterway closures Restrictions or closures of some routes More dredging of some channels/harbors Shifts to other transportation modes Periodic closures or restrictions Less reliable/efficient waterborne movement Shifts to other transportation modes More closures/interruptions More damages to infrastructure Need for emergency evacuation planning Need for infrastructure hardening Table 1 - Potential Impacts of Climate Change on U.S. Maritime Transportation 6 6 Transportation Research Board Special Report 290: Potential Impacts of Climate Change on U.S. Transportation. Transportation Research Board, Washington, D.C., 2008, 234p. (The Coast Guard does not endorse this product.) World Maritime Day - Port Level Event Planning Guide 7

8 What can my port do for World Maritime Day 2009? There are many possible ways for your port to observe World Maritime Day This guide is not meant to limit any ideas for a World Maritime Day Event, it is simply meant to provide a basic starting point. If your port chooses to follow one or more of the options described in this guide, hopefully the information provided will help to reduce the burden of planning and organizing your event. There are other organizations helping to coordinate the New York Parallel Event. Likewise, you may want to approach organizations or businesses in your port, and ask them to host, co-host or help plan the event in your area. Some possible partners for your event include: Port Authorities Vessel Owners/Operators Shipping Associations Port Committees Local Maritime Organizations Propeller Clubs Local Environmental Groups/Organizations Port Chaplains Maritime Academy Alumni organizations The first suggestion in planning a World Maritime Day event is to decide what you would like the focus to be. In some ports, there may not be much awareness or focus on climate change, and how it will impact the maritime industry. In these areas, an event centered on education would be very beneficial. Other ports may already have entities that are addressing climate change, or that have already implemented measures to reduce their environmental impact. For these areas, it would make more sense to organize an event focused on celebrating the maritime industry s contributions or sharing best practices. Again, do not feel limited by these ideas - you could plan an event focused on all of these aspects, and more! If you are planning a World Maritime Day observance in your port, please contact the Port Outreach Coordinator, LCDR Tracy Phillips, (202) This will ensure that your port receives event updates and any additional planning materials that become available. During your World Maritime Day planning, please keep in mind that some aspects of the climate change issue can be considered political in nature. If your event is going to involve these aspects of climate change, just be sure to have a balanced representation of both sides of the issue. For example, there is little dispute about the fact that our climate is changing, but there are various theories about what is causing climate change. If you were organizing a panel discussion to consider possible causes of climate change, you would want to include panel members who represent both views on the issue. The next couple of pages include possible ways for your port to recognize World Maritime Day. World Maritime Day - Port Level Event Planning Guide 8

9 Plan a meeting Plan a meeting to sit down with maritime entities and discuss any number of topics, including climate change, reducing climate change impacts or responding to climate change impacts. Alternatively, organize a seminar or conference tapping into the wealth of talent and expertise in your community. Sharing local concerns regarding climate change and/or best practices to mitigate the effects of climate change in your port is a community effort. This type of activity will highlight the collective interest in positive change. Host an event with a guest speaker Invite the port community to hear a featured speaker on the topic of climate change. Consider including local environmental groups or student organizations on the invitation list. Recognize the efforts of industry World Maritime Day is a great opportunity to recognize proactive efforts of someone from your port, especially in the area of reducing impacts on climate change. There are a number of Public Service Awards which can be presented to recognize private citizens, groups or organizations for helping the Coast Guard carry out its missions. These awards can serve to both recognize those who have helped already, and to encourage others in a position to contribute. The awards may be given to people or organizations not directly affiliated with the Coast Guard, and more details can be found in Chapter 7 of the Public Affairs Manual, COMDTINST M5728.2D. For presentation of the award, organize an event with the recipient as the keynote speaker. Include local politicians, port personnel, academics, etc. You may also want to include students as guests at this event. Hold a training session/seminar Pick a topic that is of concern to your port, and spend time educating key players on that issue. Bring in an expert or a panel of experts to go over the subject matter. Be sure to include a variety of public groups including public officials, students, and environmental groups. Sponsor an information campaign Develop an information campaign on climate change, and engage the entire community in disseminating this information. Combine this with the idea above, and launch the information campaign at a seminar, with a commitment on the part of the participants to spreading the word. Arrange tours of the port or a local ship As part of a best practices demonstration, offer public tours of ships deploying environmentally friendly technologies or practices, or port attributes that foster a greener environment. World Maritime Day - Port Level Event Planning Guide 9

10 Broadcast panel discussions from the New York Parallel Event There will be three panel discussions held during the New York Parallel Event. The topics are: Emerging technologies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions Best practices to reduce greenhouse gas emissions Greenhouse gas regulatory schemes Each panel will have a moderator and three to five experts who will provide brief presentations. The moderator will then facilitate discussions on the topic, and field questions from the audience. Each panel will last approximately one hour and fifteen minutes. The panels will be broadcast live over the internet, and this means you can set up a screen and viewing area for an audience in your area. If you are interested in broadcasting the panel discussions, please contact the Port Outreach Coordinator for more information and details. Host a science fair A science fair is a great way to get the public involved in World Maritime Day. The basic concept is to invite students from your area to work on science projects involving climate change, and then display their results at the science fair. This event could be small, involving just one class, or very big, involving numerous schools from your area. Judges visit with each student or student team, learn about their project, and then select a winner. Keep in mind that purchasing awards for a science fair winner may be limited by fiscal rules, but there are many ways to recognize an individual without using appropriated funds. The student could be awarded a tour of a local Coast Guard unit, or be given the opportunity to shadow the CO for a day. There will be a science fair held at the New York Parallel Event. If you would like to hold a science fair, or are thinking about pursuing this option, you may want to read the guidelines for the New York Event, or contact the Science Fair Coordinator for assistance (see next section for contact information). The guidelines can be accessed at: Sponsor a children s drawing competition Working with the elementary and middle schools, run a children s drawing contest with the theme of climate change. It is a great way to engage entire families in the awareness and concern for our environment. Organize a community contest of environmental initiatives Working with the public and the media, sponsor a contest on environmental initiatives for your community. Release the results at a meeting or seminar on October 16 th. Develop a World Maritime Day Treasure Hunt Arrange a treasure hunt with teams going to various stations around your port community and collecting or taking pictures of environmental awareness items. For instance, picking up recycling stickers from the recycling plant, taking a picture of a local wind power generator, etc. World Maritime Day - Port Level Event Planning Guide 10

11 Points of Contact & Helpful Links If you have questions about this guide, please contact: LCDR Tracy Phillips World Maritime Day Port Outreach Coordinator Office of Design and Engineering Standards Naval Architecture Division (CG-5212) (202) Other helpful points of contact: New York Parallel Event Science Fair Coordinator: LT Bryson Spangler Office of Design and Engineering Standards Human Element and Ship Design Division (CG-5211) (202) Here are some links which may assist in your planning: World Maritime Day Parallel Event website: American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA) 2008 Climate Change Workshop presentations: EPA s Climate Change website: EPA s Climate Change What You Can Do website: Transportation Research Board climate change activities 7 : (Includes a link to the TRB special report 290 Potential Impacts of Climate Change on US Transportation) U.S. Climate Change Science Program: 7 The Coast Guard does not endorse this product. World Maritime Day - Port Level Event Planning Guide 11