Taiwan’s ports of Keelung and Taichung have been certified as EcoPorts by the European Sea Ports Organization. A certification ceremony took place in Taipei on Tuesday. The honor followed the certification of the Port of Kaohsiung as Asia’s first EcoPort in 2014. Together, the three ports have become the only green ports in Asia. There are more than 70 green ports in the European Union.
Transportation Minister Chen Jian-yu said the certification is a historical moment. It is especially significant after 195 countries signed the Paris Agreement on the reduction of climate change at the recent United Nations Climate Change Conference. Chen said Taiwan’s green ports are setting an example for the world.
“The International Maritime Organization said that sea transportation accounts for 3.5% of the world’s carbon emission volume," said Chen. "If no measures are taken to effectively cut down on emissions, sea transportation could account for 18% of the world’s carbon emissions by 2050. Therefore green ports are an important trend for ports around the world.”
Chen said he hopes the remaining international ports in Taiwan can also become EcoPorts.