World Ports Commit To Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions
The C40 World Ports Climate Conference met in Rotterdam last week. A main topic of dicussion at the conference was reducing greenhouse gas emissions and increasing the air quality around ports.
According to the U.N. International Maritime Organization, sea ports for container and cargo ships are responsible for more than 3 percent of air pollution causing emmisions worldwide.
55 ports from around the globe have entered into an agreement to participate in efforts to reduce their green house gas emissions. The initiative will be led by the International Association of Ports and Harbours and will include researching and testing for; methods to reduce carbon dioxide emissions, alternative fuels and energies, more fuel efficient engines, and other ways to help ports become more green.
The final result of the research and testing will be the development of the World Ports Climate Declaration. Once the declaration has been completed other ports will be asked to sign on.
A follow up conference is scheduled to take place in Los Angeles in November of 2008 at which time further discussions will be made about the progress of the initiative and the direction for its future.