The International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT) recommends regulating the greenhouse gas (GHG) intensity of fuels used on voyages to and from California ports, by expanding regulated areas.
The California Air Resources Board (CARB) currently regulates emissions from ships operating within state waters but does not cover emissions from voyages to and from California ports that occur outside of regulated areas.
Ships operating within California’s regulated waters emitted 2.4 million mt of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) in 2022, compared with 13.3 million mt CO2e from voyages to and from the state’s ports, the ICCT found.
Most of the 13.3 million mt of CO2e emissions occurred outside the current regulatory scope, the think tank noted.
The study also found that 75% of ships calling at California ports could have completed all of their 2022 voyages using either methanol or ammonia without affecting service levels.
However, ICCT warned that these fuels deliver meaningful emissions reductions only when produced using renewable electricity.
Policies should therefore prioritise low-carbon production pathways while improving the availability and affordability of renewable e-fuels, ICCT added.
Source: Engine, By Gautamee Hazarika
