CONTENIDO Green Route The Green Route Strategy.................................................................................................. 2 I. Introduction............................................................................................................. 2 II. Background............................................................................................................. 3 III. Objetive................................................................................................................... 3 IV. Lines of Action......................................................................................................... 4 V. Requirements........................................................................................................... 5 a. Identification of alternatives for energy efficiency.............................................. 6 b. Identification of models and alternatives for socio-environmental management 6 c. Recognition options - Shipping Companies and clients...................................... 7 d. Monitoring and Alert System.............................................................................. 8 INTRODUCTION The Panama Canal Authority (ACP for its Spanish acronyms) has outlined this strategy with the aim of guiding efforts for environmental management and energy efficiency in its operations as well as the sustainable development of the Panama Canal Watershed and areas of responsibility. It is expected that this document be reviewed and updated every year, taking into consideration institutional requirements, best practices in the industry, social and environmental management, issues of national and international interest and the contribution to face climate change. The Panama Canal, since its conception, has aimed to close the gap in the maritime industry, offering a route with a shorter navigation time, resulting in cost reductions, supplies, fuel and consequently, in less carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from ships that use this route. For example, routes from the East Coast of the United States to Asia, the West Coast of South America to the East Coast of the United States and Europe; and the West Coast of North America to Africa and Europe have resulted in a reduction of approximately 650 million tons of carbon dioxide in the last 100 years using the Canal Route. From this perspective, the Panama Canal has been a Green Route since its opening in 1914. Moreover, ACP has incorporated as an essential element of its vision and mission, the integrated management of the Panama Canal Watershed (PCW), as this “territory” is managed in a participatory manner, to conserve and protect hydric resources and improve environmental quality of the area and therefore of the people who lived there. Integrated management of the PCW is of paramount importance as this is the source of potable for almost 50% of the country’s population, also it makes possible the operation of the Panama Canal. Approximately 183,000 people live in the PCW (according to 2010 National Census) in more than 450 rural, urban and peri-urban settlements; also commercial, industrial, agricultural and recreational activities take place in the area. This potential physical distribution require an integrated management with emphasis in a social and environmental approach to consider sustainable development as the best method to provide a healthy environment, conserve the natural resources and promote the economic developmen