Green Ports: New Front for China’s War on Pollution and Climate Change Mitigation
Seven of the world’s 10 largest and busiest container ports are located in China. These booming ports serve as the engines of China’s economic growth, but they also bring serious pollution problems to coastal Chinese cities. Long unregulated in China, shipping emissions have since become a new “front” in the “war on pollution.” On July 26, join CEF for a panel discussion with experts as they assess how these new policies and on-the-ground efforts—such as port/vessel emissions inventories and emission control zones—are reducing pollution and emissions at China’s ports in ways that could help the country meet its Paris commitments.
Overview
Seven of the world’s 10 largest and busiest container ports are located in China. These booming ports serve as the engines of China’s economic growth, but they also bring serious pollution problems to coastal cities. Long unregulated in China, shipping emissions have since become a new “front” in the war on air pollution and climate change. China’s new air pollution law mandates emissions targets for ships and port vehicles and China’s Ministry of Transport has developed an Action Plan on Shipping and Ports Pollution Control, as well as implementation schemes for key river deltas. Port pollution is also one of the priority environmental issues addressed by U.S.-China Strategic and Economic Dialogue. Over the past year the new U.S.-China Green Ports and Vessels Initiative has held two workshops in China focused on sharing best practices to reduce air pollution and black carbon emissions from ports and vessels to improve public health, air quality and climate.
On July 26, join CEF for a panel discussion with Green Port experts as they assess how China’s new policies and on-the-ground efforts—such as port/vessel emissions inventories and emission control zones—are reducing pollution and climate emissions at major Chinese ports. Dr. Peng Chuansheng (China Waterborne Transport Research Institute) will lead the discussion in exploring how and why China is taking action on green ports. Ms. Freda Fung (Natural Resources Defense Council) will summarize the regulatory and incentive programs adopted in Hong Kong to control shipping and port pollution and how Hong Kong and international experiences have served as examples that inspired China’s actions. Dr. Dan Rutherford (ICCT) will draw on a port study in Shenzhen produced for the China Environment Forum to discuss how shore power and fuel-switching offer critical solutions in reducing port emissions in China.
This meeting—part of CEF’s Choke Point: Port Cities initiative—is co-sponsored with the International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT) and the Wilson Center’s Kissinger Institute on China and the United States.
Photo Credit: Shenzhen container port, courtesy of flickr user Bert van Dijk
Documents & Downloads
- Green Ports: New Front for China’s War on Pollution and Climate Change MitigationDownload
- Green Ports: New Front for China’s War on Pollution and Climate Change MitigationDownload
- Green Ports: New Front for China’s War on Pollution and Climate Change MitigationDownload
- Green Ports: New Front for China’s War on Pollution and Climate Change MitigationDownload
Speakers
Hosted By
China Environment Forum
Since 1997, the China Environment Forum's mission has been to forge US-China cooperation on energy, environment, and sustainable development challenges. We play a unique nonpartisan role in creating multi-stakeholder dialogues around these issues. Read more
Kissinger Institute on China and the United States
The Kissinger Institute works to ensure that China policy serves American long-term interests and is founded in understanding of historical and cultural factors in bilateral relations and in accurate assessment of the aspirations of China’s government and people. Read more
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