The Panama Canal introduces the Emissions Calculator, an innovative new tool which will offer shippers an accurate assessment of their carbon emissions, rank those who have reduced the most emissions by transiting the Canal versus alternate routes, and encourage action to reduce carbon footprints.
The Emissions Calculator will work by leveraging technology already aboard the world’s maritime fleet to capture an array of data on shippers (such as vessel type, size, capacity, speed, fuel consumption and route) and provide the most accurate measurement of the GHG they emit, including the total emissions saved by choosing the Panama Canal over other routes.
CO2 Emissions Reduction Ranking
Data will then be centralised in the CO2 Emissions Reduction Ranking, a specially designed platform which ranks customers by those with the fewest emissions each month. The Panama Canal hopes to incentivise customers to demonstrate strong environmental stewardship and adopt more sustainable itineraries. Already, the Panama Canal has received encouraging feedback from its preliminary conversations with the industry.
Low Carbon Strategy
Beyond shippers, the calculator will help the Panama Canal reduce its own carbon footprint as well. The waterway will use the Emissions Calculator to measure and track emissions from its domestic day-to-day operations and support the planning of a low carbon strategy that will be used to establish a roadmap for the Panama Canal to become a “Carbon Neutral” entity.
Green Connection Environmental Recognition Program
The Calculator will be housed within the Panama Canal’s Green Connection Environmental Recognition Program and will advance the program’s work to promote emissions reductions by recognizing vessels that comply with the highest environmental performance standards and encouraging others to do the same. It will bolster the program’s existing offerings, such as the Green Connection Award and Environmental Premium Ranking.
Picture by the Panama Canal Authority (ACP).
