Port Authority of New York and New Jersey Aims to be Carbon Neutral by 2010

The offsets are likely to come from projects like wind farms and methane capture facilities. The Port Authority’s carbon dioxide emissions reduction goals build on the agency’s existing commitment to reduce the overall carbon dioxide impact from the public use of its facilities, which includes the emissions of planes at its airports, cars at its river crossings and ships at its seaports, by 5 percent a year and by 80 percent by 2050. The plan to reduce the overall impact of Port Authority facilities was announced last year. A recently completed survey indicates that the annual carbon dioxide emissions from the Port Authority’s operation of its facilities is 298,000 metric tons and the annual carbon emissions produced by the public use of agency facilities is 5.07 million metric tons. Port Authority Chairman Anthony R. Coscia said, “This carbon neutral goal builds on the agency’s aggressive capital and operating strategies for reducing its environmental footprint, including pledging an unprecedented $8 billion for mass transit in our 10-year capital plan”. Port Authority Executive Director Anthony E. Shorris said, “Finding offsets by investing in the region’s green economy is a win on every level. Today’s plan fits with a model of aggressive environmental actions the Port Authority has developed over the last year, from its carbon negative pledge at Stewart International Airport to its Green Pass program for its bridge and tunnel customers.” The carbon reduction policies were formally adopted as part of a broader Sustainability Policy authorized by the Port Authority Board of Commissioners. Other components include: strategies to reduce the risks posed by global warming to Port Authority facilities; encouraging customers, tenants and patrons to conduct their business in sustainable fashion and seeking innovative partnerships in the region to reduce the region’s overall environmental footprint. To ensure that carbon offsets purchased by the Port Authority are appropriate and produce verifiable carbon emissions reductions, the agency will utilize rigorous standards to ensure adherence to international verification protocols and will establish thorough procedures for auditing offset programs.