CO2 emissions data dismissed

Barcelona City Council said that the Port of Barcelona produces more than 5.3m tonnes of CO2 emissions, but the port stated that direct and indirect CO2 emissions from Barcelona’s port activity represent some 315,000t per year.

The port said that it “laments the manipulation” of emissions data by the council and is calling on it to rectify the figures, stressing that it has unfairly calculated them.

Emissions dispute

“The Barcelona City Council is imputing the emissions of all the chains on the port activity logistics and international transport involving vessels that have stopped at the Port in one year, therefore, gives figures that do not reflect the direct and indirect emissions of the port activity and which are within the scope of the Port of Barcelona,” said the port.

According to the port’s calculations, of the 315,000t of CO2 per year of the activity being carried out on the port precinct, 215,000t came from vessels, including those derived from the anchoring, maneuvering and stay of these vessels in port; around 80,000t CO2 corresponds to the electricity consumption of all the facilities within the port area. The remaining 20,000t of CO2 comes from vehicle emissions, both light and heavy, terminal machinery and industry.

“Therefore, the Port of Barcelona emits 10 times less CO2 than the city of Barcelona, which, according to the City Council, issues 3.413.260 million euros annually tons of CO2,” stressed the port.

At present, the port is on target to achieve by 2030 the reduction of at least 50% of direct and indirect GHG emissions.