San Diego sets environmental bar even higher

The port said it’s confident that benchmarking and certifying its environmental performance through Green Marine’s framework is in keeping with its constant efforts to protect its land, air and water.

“Year after year, we set environmental goals and measure our green initiatives to further improve our greenhouse gas reduction, sustainable development, water conservation, waste management and responsible business practices,” said Chairman Rafael Castellanos, Board of Port Commissioners.

Green efforts

The Port of San Diego is the second port in California to become a Green Marine participant following the Port of Hueneme.

Green Marine’s environmental programme makes it possible for port authorities, terminal operators and ship owners to voluntarily reduce their environmental footprint by focusing on greenhouse gases, spill prevention, waste management, environmental leadership, community impacts and underwater noise.

The Port of San Diego is known for its environmental stewardship. It established a Blue Economy Incubator in 2016 to foster sustainable aquaculture and pilot emerging blue technologies that can deliver multiple benefits to the whole port community such as fisheries enhancement, ecosystem restoration, water quality improvements, environmental monitoring and education and outreach.

It implemented shore power in 2010, one of the first ports on the West Coast to do so, and adopted a Climate Action Plan in 2013, one of the first ports in the US to do so.