PoLB improves air quality

The report examines data from the 2012 calendar year, which mark six straight years of improving air quality in the harbor area thanks to the port’s focused efforts to reduce air pollution caused by goods movement.

The reasons for air quality improvements include bigger ships carrying cargo more efficiently, newer ships with cleaner engines, the 1st January, 2012 deadline for full implementation of the Clean Trucks Program, increasing use of shore power, and a new low-sulfur fuel rule for ships that started in August 2012.

Compared to the 2005 emissions levels, all of the key air pollutants from port-related sources were reduced in 2012. In addition to the drop in diesel emissions, smog-forming nitrogen oxides and sulphur oxides have been cut 54 percent and 88 percent respectively. Greenhouse gases were lowered by 24 percent. The reduction in pollutants far outpaced a 10 percent decline in containerised cargo activity in the same period.