Port of Montreal joins in climate call

The Montreal Port Authority (MPA) has joined the 200 signatories of the Call to Action for Shipping Decarbonization.

Launched by the Getting to Zero Coalition in partnership with the Global Maritime Forum, World Economic Forum and Friends of Ocean Action, this action calls on public and private organizations from the maritime, energy and financial sectors to accelerate the energy transition of international shipping and achieve the goal of zero emissions by 2050.

Launched at the recent United Nations General Assembly, the Call to Action for Shipping Decarbonization aims to decarbonize international shipping by 2050 and deploy zero-emission fuels and vessels.

The Call to Action was delivered to governments around the world ahead of COP26 in Glasgow, which began on October 31. Martin Imbleau, president and CEO of the MPA, attended the event.

“The Canadian marine industry can and must take the lead in decarbonizing the transportation industry. Building on the fact that Quebec and Greater Montreal are uniquely positioned to develop green energy solutions, the Port of Montreal has already begun its energy transition to decarbonize its activities,” Imbleau said.

“We pledge to stay the course to achieve our goal of carbon neutrality by 2050 and adopt exemplary energy management in our supply chain.”

The call to action’s 200 signatories includes ports such as Antwerp, Hamburg, Rotterdam and Vancouver, terminal operators, shipping lines and international industry associations. Together, the signatories are undertaking close to 300  actions and measures in all to successfully decarbonize the marine industry.

A shift in progress

In the twenty years since it adopted its first environmental policy, which focused on protecting natural environments, fighting climate change and preventing disturbances, the MPA has instituted numerous measures, including:

• Electrification of cranes and equipment at the terminals
• Installation of a shore power system for cruise ships and wintering vessels
• Carrying out GHG and air pollutant inventories on its territory in Montreal and Contrecoeur, the results of which are posted on the Port of Montreal’s website and show a 45 percent decrease in the intensity of the MPA’s GHG emissions per tonne of cargo handled since the 2007 reference year, for an average reduction of nearly four percent per year
• Fully hybrid fleet of service vehicles and next generation multi-generator locomotives that reduce GHG emissions by close to 30 percent
• Implementation of an LNG fuelling system
• Cooperation and development agreement with a Canadian company that specializes in producing biofuels, Greenfield Global
• Participation in PIONEERS (PORTable Innovation Open Network for Efficiency and Emissions Reduction Solutions), a green innovation project led by the Port of Antwerp that channels the efforts of 46 partners
• The MPA is also a founding member of Green Marine and a stakeholder in the Montreal Climate Partnership.