Tag: GHG

Governments meeting in Bonn embark on next steps Governments meeting in Bonn embark on next steps following historic Durban Climate Change ConferenceBonn, 14 May 2012 - Building on the historic results of the Durban Climate Change Conference last year, governments on Monday embarked on the next essential steps required to curb global greenhouse gas emissions and help developing countries adapt to the inevitable effects of climate change.The meeting will be the first opportunity to assess and to continue to implement the results of the Durban conference, and is also designed to prepare decisions for adoption at the UN Climate Change Conference in Doha at the end of 2012."Durban was a turning point, where governments agreed tasks and timelines that give the best chance of avoiding the worst of future climate change. We now need to maintain the momentum, to constantly keep turning political decisions into action," said Christiana Figueres, UNFCCC Executive Secretary.Ms. Figueres said that the meeting in Durban had put the world on a clear path towards greater ambition, yet a gap still remained between the agreed goal of a maximum 2 degrees Celsius global temperature rise and the current, global effort to stay below that level. According to ...

To implement clean diesel projects aimed at reducing GHG emissions from marine vessels As much as $29 million is available from federal and state grants to implement clean diesel projects aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions from marine vessels, trucks, buses and trains, according to a recent announcement by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).The EPA says that $20 million is available in grants under the Diesel Emission Reduction Program (DERA) in FY 2012 grants and another approximately $9 million will be available through direct state allocations. EPA estimates that for every $1 spent on clean diesel funding up to $13 of public health benefit is realized."Technology has evolved to make diesel engines more efficient and cleaner than ever," says Gina McCarthy, assistant administrator for EPA's Office of Air and Radiation. "These grants enable owners of older diesel vehicles to make investments that modernize their vehicles while making the air in their communities cleaner and healthier to breathe."This is the first competition since DERA was reauthorized in 2011. The program cleans up existing diesel vehicles, many of which can be operated for decades, by targeting projects that utilize the most cost-effective clean diesel strategies. By reducing diesel emissions in areas ...

Arctic Ocean could be a significant contributor of methane, study reveals The Arctic Ocean could be a significant contributor of methane, a powerful greenhouse gas, scientists reported on Sunday.Researchers carried out five flights in 2009 and 2010 to measure atmospheric methane in latitudes as high as 82 degrees north.They found concentrations of the gas close to the ocean surface, especially in areas where sea ice had cracked or broken up.The study, published in the journal Nature Geoscience, wonders if this is a disturbing new mechanism that could accelerate global warming."We suggest that the surface waters of the Arctic Ocean represent a potentially important source of methane, which could prove sensitive to changes in sea-ice cover," it says.If so, the Arctic Ocean would add to several identified "positive feedbacks" in Earth's climate system which ramp up the greenhouse effect.One such vicious circle is the release of methane from Siberian and North American permafrost.The thawing soil releases methane that has been locked up for millions of years, which adds to global warming -- which in turns frees more methane, and so on.But this is the first evidence that points to a methane contribution from the ocean, not the land, in Arctic latitudes.Levels ...

Green House Gas Legal Framework Georgios Remoundos, Ministry of Development, Competitiveness & Shipping, Pollution Prevention Equipment & Cargoes Department is giving a presentation regarding Green House Gas Legal FrameworkThe Safety4Sea Energy Efficiency Forum, a PRO BONO event, successfully completed on 8th of March 2012 in Athens, covering a wide range of Technical, Operational and Market Based Issues regarding Energy Efficiency in Shipping.The event has been well attended by over 250 delegates at the venue representing more than 140 companies. The event organized by IBS Marine Consulting Group and sponsored by MARORKA, Dorian Hellas and Transmar Shipping.For more information about the Forum visithttp://www.safety4sea.com/forum/3For more information about Safety4Sea visit the official site http://www.safety4sea.com

Green house gases after EEDI adoption: what now Professor Harilaos N. Psaraftis, NTUA & IMO MEPC GHG Group of Experts is giving a presentation regarding Green House Gases after EEDI adoption and highlights key issues regarding the Energy Efficiency Design Index (EEDI)The Safety4Sea Energy Efficiency Forum, a PRO BONO event, successfully completed on 8th of March 2012 in Athens, covering a wide range of Technical, Operational and Market Based Issues regarding Energy Efficiency in Shipping.The event has been well attended by over 250 delegates at the venue representing more than 140 companies. The event organized by IBS Marine Consulting Group and sponsored by MARORKA, Dorian Hellas and Transmar Shipping.For more information about the Forum visithttp://www.safety4sea.com/forum/3For more information about Safety4Sea visit the official site http://www.safety4sea.com

Ships entering or leaving EU ports would be required to purchase credits for emissions In the midst of a diplomatic row over the inclusion of aviation in the EU's emissions trading scheme (ETS), the European Commission is to propose bringing maritime transport into the scheme.All ships entering or leaving EU ports would be required to purchase credits for the greenhouse gases that they emit. This would correspond to the requirement that was introduced for aircraft in January.The Commission is obliged to propose a market-based mechanism to reduce shipping emissions because a meeting last week of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) failed to make headway on creating a global agreement to reduce emissions. The EU's 2009 ETS law requires that the Commission act unilaterally to reduce shipping emissions, as it did with aviation, if there is no global solution by December 2011.While the IMO was meeting last week, Chinese media were claiming that Hong Kong Airlines would cancel an aircraft order with Airbus in retaliation for the EU's insistence on including foreign airlines in the ETS system. European media reports then cited Berlin sources as saying Germany was reversing its support for including aviation in the ETS.But Hong Kong Airlines would ...

IMO MEPC 63 27 - From February to 2 March 2012 Market-based measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from international shipping will be among the key items on the agenda of the Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), when it meets for its 63rd session from 27 February to 2 March 2012, at IMO Headquarters in London.The MEPC will also discuss issues relating to the implementation of the ship recycling and ballast water management conventions and consider the adoption of amendments to the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL) relating to reception facilities in Small Island Developing States. Market-based measures to address the reduction of GHGs The MEPC will continue to consider a number of proposals for market-based measures (MBMs), to assist the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from international shipping.This follows the adoption, in July 2011, of amendments to MARPOL Annex VI Regulations for the prevention of air pollution from ships, to add a new chapter 4 to Annex VI on Regulations on energy efficiency for ships to make mandatory the Energy Efficiency Design Index (EEDI), for new ships, and the Ship Energy Efficiency Management Plan (SEEMP) for all ships.The ...

Panama Canal expansion promises much ANTIPATER of Sidon, a Greek poet, would be writing travel guides had he lived now. Back around 140 BC, he composed a list of the world's main theamata - literally, things to be seen - from the great Pyramid of Giza to the Colossus of Rhodes, a giant bronze statue of the Sun god Titan Helios that stood beside the island's harbour. Today, we know his list as the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Lots of other people have composed similar lists. The American Society of Civil Engineers, for example, has the Empire State Building, the Channel Tunnel and the Golden Gate Bridge among its seven modern wonders. The Panama Canal is also on the society's list.And who could argue against it? Both the effort that went into its construction and the effect it has had on the world were Homeric. Its expansion, due for completion in just three years, is similarly Herculean. And among the project's benefits will be a substantial reduction in greenhouse gas emissions that even the Oracle at Delphi might not have foreseen.Spanish explorers first dragged ships the 50 miles across the Isthmus in 1514 and Charles V, the King ...

International measures for shipping emissions are needed Christian Breinholt, Deputy Director General of the Danish Maritime Authority was a guest speaker at the meeting. He made the case for the Danish proposal for a greenhouse gas convention introducing Market Based Measures for shipping.Looking for support from Greek owners he presented the mechanics and philosophy of the International Green House Gas Fund - a market based measure to address IMO's 'equal treatment' requirements with the UNFCCC's 'common but differentiated responsibilities' approach. It will take years to develop an international convention he said so we need to start now. 'From our perspective, we need a single, dedicated, mechanism for the global industry'. Mr. Breinholt said that the Danish proposal is becoming widely supported within the industry.One of Mr. Breinholt's comments, using Lloyd's Register research, was that without some form of market based measures, in the context of anticipated growth in trade even with massive energy efficiency improvements, shipping will be unable to reduce its total greenhouse gas emissions. Mr. Breinholt was persuasive and his comments were listened to with great interest by the committee.Lloyd's Register provided updates on shipbuilding activity world-wide, insight into efficient ship designs, as well as technical and operational ...

Busan is making progress in becoming a green port South Korea's Busan port is making progress in becoming a green port as part of the government's effort to drive the economy towards low-carbon and environmentally friendly growth.Under a plan to reduce greenhouse gas from Busan port by 30% to 385,000 tonnes by 2020, the Busan Port Authority (BPA) will incorporate alternative maritime power and change yard tractors into ones using changeable batteries or hybrid engines.In addition, e-RYGC powered by electricity will be expanded to all terminals and the lighting equipment of the port will be changed to LED-based, the port authority said."Besides the air quality management efforts, BPA will try to improve water and noise (pollution) by introducing comprehensive monitoring system," BPA said.Source: Seatrade Asia