Greening of the World’s Ports and Merchant Fleet

Bigger and Faster Coal, Container and Cruise Ships Pollute the Ocean and Add to Climate Change

PUBLIC FORUM: Wednesday 12th September 2007

6.30 - 8.30pm, Newcastle Town Hall (the Newcastle Room)

With global shipping trade on track to double by 2030 or earlier and mega-cruise ships calling on protected waters such as the Great Barrier Reef, ocean pollution and global warming emissions from ships and ports are growing at an alarming rate. To combat this increasing threat to oceans, people and the planet, environmentalists from Friends of the Earth are calling for the greening of the world’s ports and merchant fleet.

Teri Shore of Friends of the Earth in California will be conducting a public forum in Newcastle to point out the mostly unseen, but growing, volumes of air toxics and greenhouse gas emissions from expanding global trade and cruise ship traffic. Shore recently participated in international negotiations to reduce ship pollution and greenhouse gas emissions – where Australia and the U. S. government attempted to derail any progress.

However, in California and Europe, regulations and programs to green ships and ports are requiring cleaner ships, engines and equipment.

Contact: steve at hcec dot org dot au, 0437 275 119.
Hosted by the Hunter Community Environment Centre & Friends of the Earth
www.hcec.org.au
www.foe.org.au