Environment Report 2018

The Thames Vision: “The River Thames the cleanest since the Industrial Revolution, with improved habitats”

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Environment Report 2018

� We are the Custodians of the Tidal Thames, fromTeddington to the North Sea. As a Trust Port, wehold the Thames in trust for future generations.With no shareholders, we operate for the benefit ofour stakeholders.

� We work to ensure navigational safety along thetidal Thames, sharing our marine, environmental,planning and other expertise to promote use of theriver and safeguard its unique marine environment.

� The tidal Thames is one of the UK’s busiestwaterways and is home to the country’s secondbiggest port by tonnage of goods handled.

� Stakeholder’s ambitions are set out in the Thames Vision.

The Thames Vision is a 20-year developmentframework for the river,created with stakeholdersover 18 months from early2015 to mid-2016. Across sixgoals, the Vision targetsgreater river use, alongsidean improving environment.The Vision is being deliveredin partnership by the PLA and stakeholders;key elements of the Vision are reflected in theLondon Plan and the Mayor of London’senvironment and transport strategies. TheEnvironment and Heritage goal is to see “theriver the cleanest since the IndustrialRevolution, with improved habitats andawareness of heritage”.

� The PLA Strategy is to support the Visionambitions.

To deliver the Vision our Strategy is centredon key themes: PROTECT – targeting Zero Harm and

improved sustainability IMPROVE – running efficient operations and

investing to support growing river use

PROMOTE – leading the Thames Vision tounlock the potential of theThames

� PLA Environment Mission StatementThe Mission Statement sets out the keyobjectives to achieve our environmentalgoals.

� PLA policies drive our activitiesTo deliver corporate environmentalimprovements we have an EnvironmentalPolicy, which has a target for carbon emissionreduction, and an Energy Policy, whichtargets a reduction in energy consumption.

About the PLA

Overview page 3

Cleaning the River – Air page 4and Water Quality

Resource Management page 6

Greening the River – page 8Biodiversity

This report outlines our environmental aims, our progressto date and our future plans, including how we cancontribute to relevant UN Sustainable Development Goals(SDGs). It is collated into three main themes of Cleaningthe River, Resource Management and Greening the River,with links to further information on other pages of ourwebsite where appropriate. These include plans andactions relating directly to our operations, as well as ourexternal facing role to improve the wider Thamesenvironment, using our powers as a regulator, investor andadvocate.

Key environmental statistics are contained within ourAnnual Report & Accounts, which can be found on ourwebsite: www.pla.co.uk.

Key achievements:� First UK port to produce an Air Quality Strategy

� Convening an annual Environment Conference to report onenvironmental achievements

� Producing a Natural Capital Account for the tidal Thames

� Initiating and supporting the ongoing Cleaner Thames campaign and producing a Litter Strategy

� Thames Tideway Tunnel construction is progressing

� Working in Partnership with regulators and our stakeholders to deliver the goals of the Thames Vision.

Future PlansMany of our future plans are set out in our published strategies (AirQuality; Litter) but on a broader note we also plan to:

� Partner with the RSPB to drive improvements in habitat in North Kent and South Essex

� Produce guidance for river related developments to aid developers and planning authorities

� Continue to work on the Air Quality Strategy actions and update the Strategy

� Refurbish our main Gravesend office to improve working conditions and reduce energy consumption

� Thames Tideway Tunnel will come into operation, improving waterquality of the river

� We are working towards our contributions to the UN SDGs – see ourcurrent progress on line: www.pla.co.uk/SDG

� Review Climate Change Adaption Report.

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Environment Report 2018

Overview

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Environment Report 2018

We published the first UK port air quality strategy in draft in 2017 and it wasfinalised in 2018. The aim of the Air Quality Strategy for the tidal Thames is: “The reduction in harmful emissions to air from marine sources within the tidalRiver Thames, whilst facilitating the Port and London’s future growth.”Eighteen priority actions will be worked on by the PLA and river stakeholders. Thestrategy has mobilised river users:

� A third of the MBNA Thames Clippers fleet is now able to run on renewablebiofuel sources

� Cory Riverside Energy has invested in more energy efficient tugs to propel theirbarges up and down the river

� Transport for London has commissioned hybrid ferries to replace standard ferriesat the Woolwich Crossing

Water quality will be improved by the Thames Tideway Tunnel and in themeanwhile we have developed with partners a Litter Strategy to help reduce rivercontamination.

Cleaning the River – Air and Water Quality

Air Quality StrategyBaseline / Target

The Air QualityStrategy setschallenging targets,including a reductionin nitrogen oxides(NOx) and particulatematter (PM) by 50% inthe next 25 years.Initial targets are toachieve a 20% reduction by 2021.

Air Quality – Green TariffBaseline / Target

In 2017, London was thefirst UK port to introduce aGreen Tariff – a port chargesdiscount scheme. To qualify,vessels must have anEnvironmental ShippingIndex score of 30 or abovebased on environmentalperformance and applies to vessels thatoutperform current International MaritimeOrganisation emission standards.

Litter and river-derived waste (Driftwood)Baseline / Target

Our litter baselinefor 2017 found 55%of surveyedforeshore wasgraded B or above(predominantly freeof litter). The targetis to achieve 75%graded B or aboveby 2022.

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Air Quality StrategyWe published the first UKport Air Quality Strategyin 2018.In partnership withTransport for London, aport wide air inventory ofemissions from marinesources was calculated in2017 – the first time theair quality has beencalculated for the wholetidal Thames.

Green Tariff The Green Tariff is proving successful with 40%more qualifying vessels calling on the Thamesin 2018 than in the inaugural year 2017.

LitterCampaignsWe launchedthe CleanerThamescampaign in2015, frontedby explorer andTV presenterPaul Rose andsupported bypartners. It encourages Londoners to “do theright thing” and put rubbish in bins.

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Environment Report 2018

Achievements and results Achievements and results Achievements and results

Emissions Monitoring – PLA craftIn 2018, we commissionedUCL to undertakemonitoring of emissionsfrom our vessels.

ConferenceIn December 2018 wehosted the EnvironmentalShip Index (ESI) steeringgroup meeting to discussthe next phase of the ESI.ESI is part of the World Ports SustainabilityProgram. We use the ESI to determine vesselsqualifying for the PLA Green Tariff.

Litter ForumWe created the Forum in 2014.Members include non-governmentorganisations, university researchers,river operators, businesses, industry bodies andauthorities. As a result of the Thames Vision, theForum has now become the delivery mechanismfor the Litter Strategy. The Litter Strategy for theThames was published in June 2018.

GuidanceWe published Best Practiceguidance for inland fleetoperators in August 2018.This summarises technology,fuel, design andmaintenance, operation andfunding opportunities.

Climate Change AdaptionAs a major port under the auspices ofthe Climate Change Act, we hold aClimate Change Adaption Plan thatlooks at ways to maintain portservices in a changing climate. ThePLA has also joined the LondonClimate Change Partnership to engage withwider stakeholders.

Litter Clean-UpsOngoing financialsupport to Thames21allowing the charity tocontinue their litter clean-ups on London’s rivers. A litter reportingmechanism was added to our website in 2018to allow better quantification of litter clean upeffort and materials removed.

Proposals / next steps Proposals / next steps Proposals / next steps

Air QualityMonitoring Real time airquality monitoringstations will beinstalled. Initiallystations will be located at Greenwich in 2019and will expand along the tidal Thames in 2020.

Green TariffFor 2019, the GreenTariff discount on mainport charges has beendoubled to 10%,providing a greaterincentive for shippinglines to invest in ships with good environmentalperformance.

New Litter CollectorsWe have been collecting litterthrough Central London usingpassive driftwood collectors(PDC) for many years. A new project in partnershipwith DP World at LondonGateway will design a PDC suitable forconditions in the Estuary.

Air QualityStrategy DeliveryIn partnership withthe Greater LondonAuthority, TfL, localcouncils, theGovernment and

other river stakeholders, work to deliver theeighteen Strategy actions by 2022.

Green TariffWe are reviewingthe feasibility ofextending theGreen Tariff toinland fleetvessels.

Encouraging Litter CollectionIn 2019 we will belaunching a study intothe feasibility of two-minute litter picks onthe Thames to enablethe public to help keepthe foreshore clear oflitter.

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Environment Report 2018

Resource Management

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Energy

Baseline / Target

Our Energy Policy targets areduction in energyconsumption of 15% by2020 based on a 2014baseline. Based on thecurrent trend, we shouldachieve the target in 2019.

Carbon Footprint

Baseline / Target

The PLA EnvironmentalPolicy targets a reductionin carbon footprint of25% by 2023 against the2014 baseline.

Waste and Materials

Baseline / Target

We have a zero waste tolandfill policy and have sentno waste directly to landfillsince 2016.

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Waste Disposal Routes 2018

We are developing plans to refurbish our offices in Gravesend and this provides a great opportunity to reduce the building’s energy consumption and modernise the working environment. Plans willbe drawn up in 2019 and will incorporate energy efficient LED lighting and a more efficient heating and ventilation system, whilst the feasibility of further renewable energy sources will be determined as the design progresses. In addition, commissioning the new hybrid pilot cutter will reduce diesel consumption and is expected to help us achieve our target footprint reduction by 2023.

Achievements and results Achievements and results Achievements and results

Renewable Energy - RiverWe have utilised renewableenergy for a number of years:� Renewable energy powers

95% of our navigation lights � Eight of our ten lighthouses

and navigation beacons arepowered by solar powerand two of these also havesmall wind turbines tosupplement the power.

Carbon FootprintAlthough our totalcarbon footprinthas not fallendramatically, ourcarbon footprintper million tonnesof cargo has fallensince the 2014baseline.

Single Use Plastic ReductionIn 2018 we joined other highprofile organisations in pledgingto be single-use plastic free.Measures have includedremoving plastic glasses andcutlery from offices and workingwith caterers and event hosts,whilst plastic-bottle-fed water coolers werereplaced across our estate years ago with mains-fed water coolers.

Like most organisations, we use resources to undertake our work,including electricity, gas and water in our buildings, and generatewaste which could be utilised as a resource rather than beingdiscarded. Our baseline year for resource management is 2014,when we undertook a comprehensive review of energy data.In line with the UK Waste and Resources Strategy, and forcompliance with our Environmental Management SystemISO14001:2015, we are working towards the circular economy andlife cycle considerations through reviews of purchasing, operationand disposal.

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Environment Report 2018

Renewable Energy – Land � Photovoltaic panels were

installed on the Main Shedat our yard in Denton in2012 and now generateapproximately 7% of thetotal electrical demand at the site.

� Solar thermal panels were installed on theroof of our main office base in Gravesend, andprovide hot water to the building.

Energy EfficiencyLow energy lighting withmovement sensors hasbeen installed across allPLA-owned buildings for anumber of years.

Achievements and results

Proposals / next steps Proposals / next steps Proposals / next steps

Achievements and results Achievements and results

Hybrid TechnologyIn 2018 wecommissioned a newhybrid pilot cutter foruse at Gravesend. Ourcurrent cutter, Patrol, isresponsible for about 10% of the PLA’s carbonfootprint. With hybrid technology and improveddesign fuel consumption for the vessel, Leader,should fall and an accompanying reduction inour carbon footprint should be reflected in our2019 figures.

DataSignificant progress has beenmade in the past four years toimprove data capture at the PLA,allowing better analysis ofoptions to reduce the corporatecarbon footprint.

Water UseDuring the development ofour operational complex atMarine House (Denton) in2009, a system of rainwaterharvesting was incorporated

to reduce mains water consumption. Rainwaterprovides approximately 35% of the water use atMarine House.

Green TechnologySince 2017 we have required alldevelopments on the river toconsider the feasibility ofinstalling “Green Technologies”which may enhance energy efficiency, generaterenewable energy or conserve resources, egrainwater harvesting.

Vessel EfficiencyVessel fuel accounts for about 69%of our energy consumption.Vessel use is fundamental to ourrole , but small increases inefficiency would contribute to a reduction inenergy use. Use of efficiency curves forbehaviour change and better analysis of enginemanagement data will create savings.

Energy Savings We are required to comply with theEnergy Savings OpportunityScheme (ESOS) Regulations 2014and have implemented a number of the Phase 1recommendations. We will complete all thenecessary steps for Phase 2 compliance to allowsubmission before the deadline in December2019.

Vessel FuelWe are reviewing thepotential to switch our vesselfleet to biodiesel, or similaralternatives, which wouldsignificantly reduce ourcarbon footprint whilst alsohaving the benefit ofimproving emissions to air.

Office RefurbishmentWork should begin onthe project to refurbishour Gravesend office in2019. The project is toprovide modern office facilities with improvedenergy efficiency which will reduce our carbonfootprint.

Waste Contract2019 will see a reviewof our wastecontracts with theaim of reducing ourtotal wasteproduction andincreasing the amount of waste we recycle.

Water ReductionWater reduction measureswill be incorporated intothe Gravesend officerefurbishment.

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Environment Report 2018

Greening the River – Biodiversity

RiverBaseline / Target

The Thames VisionInvasive Non NativeSpecies (INNS) Groupidentified that thereshould be no increase inthe number of INNSrecorded in the Thamesand riverside land. Anassessment was made ofthe number of INNS species records held by theNational Biodiversity Network (NBN) between2011 and 2016 in the tidal Thames.

River EdgesBaseline / Target

Biodiverse sites areimportant but gettingconnections betweenthese sites is vital to allowwildlife to spread andflourish. We measuredgaps between designatedwildlife sites and found 115km (or 31%) of the river is designated habitat. The Thames Vision goal is toimprove the connectivity between biodiversehabitats and the initial target is to see no loss ofhabitat.

LandBaseline / Target

The Thames Vision goal is toimprove the biodiversity of sitesrecognised for their wildlifeinterest.Of the SSSIs that fall into landowned by, or within ourjurisdiction, 70% are infavourable condition and 30%

unfavourable – requiring appropriatemanagement to prevent special features beinglost. The target is no net decline of sites, withan aspiration of none with UnfavourableDeclining status.

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Thames SSSI Status

The tidal Thames covers a range of diverse habitats and is home to a largenumber of different species. There are nine Sites of Special Scientific Interest(SSSI), four Special Protection Areas, two Special Areas of Conservation andthree Ramsar sites that fall within our jurisdiction or land ownership. NaturalEngland divides SSSIs into units depending on habitat

type. They assess the status of SSSI’s every six years to indicate broadlywhether units on the site are favourable (habitats and features are in ahealthy state) or unfavourable.

Habitat Management – Rainham Silt LagoonsThe lagoons, in the Inner Thames Marshes SSSI,were reactivated in 2018. We partnered withLand and Water Services Limited (LAWS) who willmanage the site for ecological benefit duringoperation, and will work closely with the RSPB toprevent impacts on existing bird populations. Inconjunction with interested parties LAWS havedeveloped a restoration scheme for the sitewhich will enable it to improve from its currentunfavourable SSSIstatus by providingsuitable wet habitat forbirds whilst retaining adry area for protectedinvertebrate species.

Achievements and results

Communication – Estuary EdgesWe have partnered withthe Environment Agencyand Thames EstuaryPartnership to revise theEstuary Edges biodiversityenhancement guidance.The document aims to help river wall owners anddevelopers to “green the edges” along the tidalThames which will contribute to the Vision goal toimprove connectivity.

Achievements and results Achievements and results

Natural CapitalAccountingDuring 2018 wecommissionedeftec to produce a Natural Capital Account forthe tidal Thames. Natural Capital is the sum ofnatural assets from which there are benefits. Asnature is usually invisible in economic terms,defining these benefits and assigning monetaryvalues allows natural habitats to appear on abalance sheet alongside all other assets. This baseline Natural Capital Account for thetidal Thames indicates a net ecosystem servicesvalue of £4.6 billion over 60 years, with mostcosts and benefits accruing to Thamesstakeholders rather than the PLA.

Designated sites along the Thames and the connectivity gaps between them

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Environment Report 2018

Achievements and results

Vision BiodiversityAn assessment was made usingNational Biodiversity Network(NBN) records of the number of keybird, fish, mammal, invertebrateand plant species between 2011and 2016 in the three tidal Thames WaterFramework Directive water bodies and comparedagainst the key species identified by the VisionBiodiversity Group. This will be repeated to trackthe increasing presence of key species.

Achievements and results

Proposals / next steps

Communications – ConferenceWe organised the firstEnvironment and HeritageConference in 2017 to shareprogress towards theThames Vision goals. Thisannual event aims to cover a range of topics thatcross the Environment and Heritage goals but aredelivered through the wider use and growth ofthe port under the Vision.

Achievements and results Habitat Management - FarmlandPLA owned farmland at Cliffe and Allhallows ismanaged according to Natural England’s HigherLevel Stewardship scheme. HLS is open to eligiblefarms and requires complex environmentalmanagement. Farming in harmony with thenatural environment allows wildlife on thesefarms to flourish. Ad hoc observation surveysundertaken by the farmers indicated 92 species ofbird were spotted in 2017, along with fivedamselfly, nine dragonfly and three scarce beespecies. Anecdotal evidence suggests thenumber of species are increasing.

Habitat Management – Farmland at CliffeIn 2017 we supported ditch clearance work atCliffe to allow better water management whichshould benefit farming and wildlife across thearea, which is designated as SSSI, Ramsar and SPA.

Proposals / next steps

Farmland MonitoringIn 2019 we aim to start ecologicalmonitoring of our tenantedfarmland to develop a baselineagainst which we can assessfuture improvement works.

RSPB PartnershipIn 2019 we will partnerwith the RSPB throughour Investment Fund,investing over£150,000 to improvehabitat on RSPB Reserves in North Kent and SouthEssex. This work will help deliver the Vision goalby improving the condition of priority habitat,create new habitat and form new wetland ditches.The works will benefit lapwing, avocet andredshank, plus rare dragon and damsel fly and beeand wasp species.

Habitat Management – Oliver’s AitOn the mid-stream island thatwe own, Oliver’s Ait, cageshave been placed in selectedlocations to exclude CanadaGeese to determine if they, orother factors, are the cause ofpoor vegetation growth on the island.

Data – closing the gapsWe have identified 37 river locations, totalling11km, of habitat enhancements added todevelopments. Future work will identify which ofthese habitat enhancements have been installedto replace lost habitat and which are additionalso we can determine where gaps are decreasingin line with the Vision goal.

Local Authority GuidanceGuidance for local authorities and developers willbe published in 2019. encouraging use of the riverto improve air quality and reduce congestion. Itwill also provide links to sustainability topics easilyimplemented into riverside schemes, such as litterreduction, sustainable drainage and greeninfrastructure. Following the guidance willhelp developers create habitat and contribute tothe Vision goal to reduce gaps betweenbiodiverse sites.

Information – The tidalThames ecology mapThis has recently beenupdated and is available onthe PLA website or onrequest as an A2 hardcopy.

Vision INNS The Vision INNS and BiodiversityGroup will finalise a Strategy and

Action Plan.

Vision Biodiversity In 2019 we will developproposals with our partners toachieve significant habitatimprovements at West ThurrockLagoon and Marshes SSSI withan aim that the intertidal SSSIunit will be classified as“Favourable” when it is nextreviewed.

Proposals / next steps

See our how we are contributing to Sustainable Developments Goals at: www.pla.co.uk/SDG

PROTECT I IMPROVE I PROMOTE

www.pla.co.uk@LondonPortAuth

www.youtube.com/portoflondon01474-562200