THE New York Times has highlighted a US eco-lobby report blaming Chinese containerships for causing terrible air pollution when what's generated by inland sources is far worse.
In blaming box ship bunker burn for China's big air pollution problem, the Natural Resources Defense Council study fails to note that the top 10 most polluted cities in China are far from the sea - according to a Greenpeace ranking.
The closest to the sea, in the 10 most polluted cities, is in seventh place, Jinan city in Shandong province, 100 miles from the ocean and more that 200 miles from the Port of Qingdao
Prosing on regardless, the report said: "Since Chinese port cities are among the most densely populated with the busiest ports in the world, air pollution from ships and port activities likely contributes to much higher public health risks than are found in other port regions."
Yet in terms of ports, the world's biggest, Shanghai, was ranked 48th most polluted city in China, Qingdao 47th, Guangzhou 55th, Dalian 57th, Ningbo 58th, Dongguan (adjacent to Guangzhou) 63rd, Shenzhen 66th and Xiamen 72th. No other major port even made the Greenpeace ranking.
Yet the eco-lobby says massive amounts of pollution come from cheap fuel used by Chinese containerships is used by virtually all ships everywhere unless legally constrained.
While many developed countries regulate the grade of fuel being used by ships upon port entry, China, like most others, does not, said the report.
"Regulation of air emissions from ships is virtually non-existent today in China and the rest of the developing world," said the report, co-written by Hong Kong environmentalist Freda Fung, of the Hong Kong Civic Exchange eco-lobby.
WORLD SHIPPING
30 October 2014 - 21:00
US eco-lobby hits Chinese ships for pollution that's far worse inland
THE New York Times has highlighted a US eco-lobby report blaming Chinese containerships for causing terrible air pollution when what's generated by inland sources is far worse.
WORLD SHIPPING
30 October 2014 - 21:00
US eco-lobby hits Chinese ships for pollution that's far worse inland
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