It’s clear that the EV ‘supply chain’ of charging stations has to expand to make EVs a success. So far, it takes longer to charge than to fill up with a liquid fuel, and the charging stations are not common enough. Couple that with a lack of standards for charging ‘nozzles’, and we see help is needed.
The European Union (EU) took a big step forward by passing a law that would greatly increase the number of EV charging stations. Every country in the EU now has to provide charging stations every 60km along roadways. Hydrogen stations also have to be provided every 200km. The number of stations is tied to the number of EVs sold in the countries.
By 2025, that would make about 600,000 charging stations in the EU, according to an estimate. There are 450,000 stations now. It’s not so many.
The new law is an example of how the EU leads the world in emissions control rules and intentions. Other nations need to step up.
Ship It Zero is a collective of US environmental groups. It has designed a new scorecard, with separate metrics for shippers and ocean carriers, for decarbonization efforts.
Many shippers, such as Costco, scored very low. And shipping lines were also graded low. The exception was Scandinavian lines and shippers. Maersk was graded B; most would agree that Maersk has been trying very hard to make moves for decarbonization, and is probably the leading liner company in that regard. Ikea also got a good grade, still only a B+ at 89/100.
Naturally both shippers and carriers were outraged, and had all sorts of criticisms of the scorecard. Most of those mentioned in the second article were the usual protestations, which no longer carry much weight. It’s abundantly clear that most carriers and shippers are making only minimal changes in practice to decarbonize.
One of the silliest criticisms is to blame it on the IMO (International Maritime Organization), a UN consortium of countries making rules for shipping. With over 130 members, it’s a surprise they can agree on anything. To say we would do more if the rules were stricter is really nonsense. Companies could do something now.
Ship It Zero points out that few shippers are even quantifying Scope 3 emissions. These are downstream emissions created by the firm’s customers. You can read an extensive and defining discussion in the Supplement to the Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Protocol Corporate Accounting and Reporting Standard.
How could an ocean carrier account for the emissions created by its customers? According to the standard, it could look at how the containers or bulk cargoes were being handled and transported ashore once landed. Are the drayage firms using EVs? What is the power source of the trains? How about storage and pipeline operation, is there leakage, or is excessive carbon or greenhouse gas emission occurring from pumping mechanisms? The same would apply to delivery to the ship.
For instance, Scope 3 emissions would include the GHG emissions treated by the firms producing and selling the fuel for ships. Green fuel sources would get higher scores than conventionally produced bunker fuel. Similarly if LNG were used as fuel, Scope 3 methane emissions from the bunkering sites should be considered, as well as the Scope 1 emissions onboard from burning the fuel.
Retailers can evaluate the Scope 3 GHG emissions created by their suppliers. They can also estimate the Scope 3 carbon emissions from use of the products they sell. Ikea for instance has invested in reducing the weight and materials used in packaging products to lower the carbon impact. Other firms could do the analysis with their products.
So I’m with Ship It Zero when it comes to the score. We can easily debate whether the score is considering all the factors. But there is no question that both shippers and carriers can and should do more, and stop simply greenwashing emissions.
California and Japan signed a letter of intent (LOI) to establish a green corridor, and also implement some zero-emission infrastructure. There will also be some emphasis on zero-emission fuel infrastructure and offshore wind development. The LOI is backed by two memoranda of understanding (MOU), between the Polr of Los Angeles and the Port of Tokyo and Port of Yokohama.
Some environmental pressure groups such as Pacific Environment applaud the move. They are calling for mandatory enforcement of the green corridors with aggressive interim goals to aim at 100% zero-carbon shipping by 2040.
Green Corridors are an excellent way to get cooperation on emissions and climate initiatives between ports, governments, and carriers.
Supply Chain and Logistics 