By
Michele Witthaus |
The Port of Los Angeles has spearheaded a carbon measurement tool that allows ports to estimate and reduce greenhouse gas emissions from their activities.
Developed in collaboration with technical experts from more than a dozen other ports and organisations worldwide, the Carbon Calculator is aimed at helping ports develop carbon reduction strategies to fight global warming. The free Carbon Calculator computes carbon dioxide emissions levels from sources associated with port operations, allowing for the development of plans to limit emissions through a Reduced Emissions Scenarios feature.
The calculator is a software package that allows ports to estimate existing carbon dioxide emissions from direct sources such as fleet vehicles, cranes, harbour craft and cargo handling equipment as well as indirect sources such as electricity used in port-owned buildings and operations. It is a project of the World Ports Climate Initiative (WPCI), an IAPH collaboration launched in 2008. The Port of Los Angeles is one of 59 WPCI members. “A handful of major ports have invested significant time and money in running cleaner operations,” said Fer Van De Laar, WPCI director and managing director of IAPH. “They are sharing that knowledge and experience with their colleagues for the health and welfare of the global community.”
Los Angeles port executive director and president of the International Association of Ports and Harbors (IAPH), Geraldine Knatz, commented: “The Carbon Calculator is a powerful tool to help each port chart its own course toward reducing greenhouse gases. A consistent methodology among ports will help us assess our global impact.”
The calculator builds on other WPCI projects, including the Port of Los Angeles-led Carbon Footprinting for Ports Guidance Document. Ports can access a higher-end version of the tool for a one-off cost of US$450, enabling them to save and export data.