The Detroit/Wayne County Port Authority revealed details of an ambitious program to dramatically improve air quality and the health of residents by cutting carbon emissions to net zero by 2040.
- Experts find Port of Detroit’s carbon emissions total almost 28,000 metric tons
- Sets out roadmap to net zero carbon emissions by 2040
- Highlights actions that can be taken for immediate reductions in emissions
- Collaboration among private terminal operators has been and will continue to be key to achieving plan’s goals
Working with technical experts from Leeds headquartered Tunley Environmental, and thanks to funding from the State of Michigan, it established that operations across the port region were responsible for 27,869 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent, and that urgent action was needed.
The maritime industry is responsible for 3% of global emissions, and it’s growing. We must work to convert from fossil fuels to zero emission power sources in our ships, port equipment and trucks by 2040 in order to avoid catastrophic effects of climate change. But we’re not just concerned about 2040. The steps we’re announcing today on Earth Day will have an immediate impact on air quality and will improve the lives of residents in our community.
…said Mark Schrupp, Port Authority executive director. Raquel Garcia, executive director of Southwest Detroit Environmental Vision, the plan’s community engagement partner, agreed.
Robert Moorcroft, who led the year-long project for Tunley Environmental, gave credit to terminal operators who voluntarily shared data and information about their operations. This collaboration was essential to developing an accurate assessment of carbon emissions and for identifying strategies to reduce emissions going forward.
Immediate actions highlighted in the plan to significantly reduce the port’s carbon footprint include the introduction of biodiesel, which emits 74 percent fewer emission than traditional diesel, and is compatible with most of the equipment used in the terminals today. Simultaneously, the plan advocates the transition to electric and hydrogen powered port equipment and trucks, as well as the continued research for a zero-emission replacement fuel for cargo ships.
Port Authority’s Chairman and Wayne County Commissioner Jonathan C. Kinloch stressed: “This report is not an end, but a beginning in the Port of Detroit’s road to becoming a sustainable port and reducing carbon emissions to net zero by 2040. We envision a port that is economically and environmentally viable, where good jobs, growing businesses, and clean air can thrive together. This plan helps set course for us to follow.”
READ THE FULL EXECUTIVE SUMMARY HERE
