One of the largest ports in the US, the Port of Houston has committed to a net-zero greenhouse gas footprint by 2050. Port of Houston environmental affairs director Trae Camble discussed some of the elements that will be critical to meeting that ambitious goal.
Mr Camble said his organisation has managed to reduce all contaminants as part of a stated goal to hit net-zero emissions by 2050, and to aim for a zero-carbon supply chain.
The difficulty for the largely container shipping-focused port is emissions that fall outside of the port’s direct control, or those coming from the vessels and vehicles that utilise the port.
When it comes to reducing emissions, there needs to be collaboration because “a lot occurs outside of the port’s gates,” Mr Camble said. “Electrification is the ultimate path,” he said, while pointing out there are a number of hurdles that have to be overcome before that can happen.
Part of the port’s overall sustainability plan could include carbon credits, but it is not the only plan.
“We are looking into using carbon credits, but then possibly creating our own carbon credits, which I think is a great idea.”
Further emissions reduction efforts can come from implementing just-in-time port arrival, which he feel is “an efficiency strategy that’s going to be very important as we move forward. There are so many different benefits that come from that.”
Mr Camble was the keynote speaker at Maritime Air Pollution and Fuel Technologies Americas 2022 in Houston in April.
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