Spanish port is first to win emissions award

The Port of Barcelona has achieved the Lean & Green initiative star, promoted by the Association of Manufacturers and Distributors (AECOC), for achieving this emissions goal over a maximum five years through a set of concrete actions. EY (formerly Ernst & Young) was responsible for certifying that the port achieved the CO2 reduction goal in the period established.

Port president, Mercè Conesa, said: “This award shows once again that we are fully committed to the goals set by the EU and the IMO derived from the Paris Agreements for reducing emissions by 2030 and 2050 framed in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).”

Shore power

Ms Conesa highlighted the port’s ‘Power to Ship’ shore power project. She also highlighted its commitment to electric mobility and promotion of LNG as a fuel.

The action plan of the Lean & Green programme sets 2016 as the baseline year to start measuring the reduction of the port’s CO2 emissions. The key efficiency indicator as a method of measurement is tonnes of goods transported annually by the port’s facilities.

Infrastructure sustainability measures at the port include renewal of the vehicle fleet with 100% electric cars and motorcycles, which has reduced accumulated emissions by 50t of CO2eq. The port is also modernising public lighting with LED technology and saving emissions by acquiring 100% of its energy with a certification of origin from renewable sources, for a total reduction of almost 5,000t of CO2eq.