After a few years ago we drew your attention to the fact that the 15 largest ships in the world emit more NOx than all the cars on the planet, today we bring you a study that reveals that the ships that supply our country pollute as much as the eight cities with the most cars… together.
The data were disclosed in a communiqué issued by the environmentalist association Zero and are the result of a study prepared by the European Federation for Transport and Environment (T&E), of which Zero is a part.
According to the study, CO2 emissions from freight ships arriving and departing Portugal are higher than those associated with road traffic in the eight Portuguese cities with the most cars (Lisbon, Sintra, Cascais, Loures, Porto, Vila Nova de Gaia , Matosinhos and Braga)… together!
According to Zero, calculations made based on the cargo handled in national ports allow estimating that ships emit 2.93 million tons (Mt) of CO2 per year. The cars in the cities mentioned above emit annually 2.8 Mt of CO2 (calculations were made from vehicle data recorded in 2013).
What does Zero propose?
In the report's conclusions, Zero also highlights the fact that Portugal is the fifth country with the highest percentage of CO2 emissions associated with the maritime transport of fossil fuels, representing 25% of total CO2 emissions in our country.
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According to the environmental association, in order to combat these values it is necessary to integrate maritime transport in the European Union's emission license trading system.
Zero environmentalist associationMaritime transport is the only mode of transport without concrete measures to reduce its emissions (…) the carbon emissions emitted by large ships are not charged. Furthermore, the maritime sector is exempted by EU legislation from paying taxes on the fuel it consumes.
In addition, Zero also defends that it is necessary to impose limits on CO2 emissions on ships that dock in European ports.
Sources: Zero — Sustainable Terrestrial System Association; TSF.