The Maritime Technology Cooperation Centre (MTCC) Pacific - one of five regional centres established under the IMO-led Global MTCC Network (GMN) project - helped the Solomon Islands port conduct a full energy efficiency and emissions audit.
Eranda Kotelawala, Chief Executive Officer of the Solomon Islands Port Authority, showed an IMO team around the port, where several emission-cutting measures are being implemented: from the solar-powered lights, to weighing in motion systems so that diesel-powered trucks do not have to stop and idle, and even repairing cracks in the road surface to help cut emissions and improve air quality.
In fact, it has been estimated that savings of up to 75% can be made in the shipping and port industries just by using current technology.
Tackling emissions at a local level is part of the global GMN project, which is having similar impacts in all five regions where an IMO GMN Maritime Technology Cooperation Centre has been created.
For example, MTCC Caribbean is coordinating regional efforts in two pilot projects: one to establish a baseline and cost/benefit analysis for different energy efficiency technologies and the other a system for collecting fuel consumption data.
MTCC Latin America has organised numerous workshops throughout the region, to assist maritime authorities and other stakeholders meet their obligations under IMO's international regulations on energy efficiency.
These are global efforts, through regional and local implementation, in order to tackle a global problem.
Climate change has no borders, it is a global issue. And only globally can it be tackled
Meropi Paneli, Senior policy Officer and Programme Manager, European Commission, told IMO.
