Today, port authorities from around the world endorsed the World Ports Climate Declaration, in which they actively commit themselves to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and improving air quality. The endorsement came at the conclusion of a three-day conference hosted by the City of Rotterdam and sponsored by, among others, the C40 Climate Leadership Group, an alliance of the world’s largest cities committed to tackling climate change. According to the conference chairman, 55 ports endorsed a framework that will lead to “concrete international measures.”
Subjects that will be addressed by the ports include the development of a standard method for quantifying CO2 emissions from ships. The ports also plan to develop a global indexing system that will enable them to reward climate-friendly ocean going ships, and punish the polluters. The next follow-up meeting will take place in Los Angeles in November.
At its public hearing on December 6, 2007, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) approved a regulation to reduce emissions from diesel auxiliary engines on ocean-going vessels while at berth. The regulation will require operators of vessels meeting specified criteria to turn off their auxiliary engines for most of their stay in port or, alternatively, to demonstrate specific fleet-wide emission reductions.
The approved regulation is subject to certain modifications that were suggested by staff at the Board hearing. On February 22, 2008, CARB met with the affected industry, the ports, and other interested stakeholders to discuss the modified regulation. Stakeholders will have 15 days to submit comments on the modified language.
For years, California ports have provided substantial benefits to the local, regional, and national economy. These benefits have not come without costs. The ships, trucks, trains, and other diesel-powered equipment at these ports are major sources of air pollution, including greenhouse gas emissions. To limit these emissions and the associated health risks, several multi-billion dollar plans have emerged to “clean up” the ports.
At the local level, the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, which taken together move more than $260 billion a year in trade, have developed an aggressive strategy to significantly reduce air pollution from port-related sources. Pursuant to the Clean Air Action Plan, the Ports propose to eliminate “dirty” diesel trucks from their cargo terminals within five years by helping to finance a new generation of clean or retrofitted vehicles.
Recent Comments