Fifteen members of the U.S. Congress, led by Congresswoman Nanette Barragán, have urged President Joe Biden to issue an executive order (EO) to support the decarbonization of the maritime industry source Offshore Energy
Acknowledgment of Leadership
In a letter sent to Biden, the members wrote“we want to thank you for your leadership in addressing the global climate crisis and for the actions you have already taken to make sure that the United States cuts all greenhouse gas emissions from the transportation sector by 2050″.
Greenhouse gas emissions from international shipping are projected to increase, and it’s critical that the federal government take action to reduce emissions and address the pollution impacts that shipping has on environmental justice communities, it was stated.
They added: “We now ask that you build on these commitments by issuing an Executive Order to spark innovation and open opportunities for decarbonizing the maritime sector and future-proof this critical component of our supply chains. We strongly urge your Administration to make this Executive Order effective, actionable, and equitable by including specific, time-bound actions and creating and maintaining high-quality jobs and advancing environmental justice.”
Recommendations for Decarbonizing the Maritime Industry
The letter includes several recommendations that the president should include in an executive order to help decarbonize the maritime industry.
First of all, the president was called to use existing Clean Air Act authority to establish a goal-based fuel standard for ships calling on U.S. ports, as well as to use the existing authorities to eliminate in-port ship emissions by 2030.
In February, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency launched the $3 billion Clean Ports Program. This initiative funds zero-emission port equipment and infrastructure to tackle the climate crisis and improve air quality at U.S. ports.
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Source: Offshore-Energy
