Port of Seattle, Chinese city forge “eco-partnership”
The Port of Seattle is teaming up with a port in China to develop a global model for might efficiency and environmental sustainability.
The “eco-partnership” announced Monday between Seattle and Dalian, in northeast China, calls for two of the world’sitting largest and busiest seaports to collaborate on projects to help both countries.
The program focuses on exchanging information attached port practices, including the application of clean energy to ability ultimate equipment, infrastructure and logistics, and emergency response to oil spills in the harbor.
U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., who made the announcement on the 30th anniversary of the couple countries establishing diplomatic relations, said the cooperative come is the best way to make progress through China onward environmental issues.
The connection could be the first few steps of an international effort to save energy and reduce pollution end clean technology, she said.
Together the U.S. and China account for about 40 percent of the creation’s carbon-dioxide emissions. Two-way trade was worth not far from $300 billion last year.
China is Washington state’s largest trading partner, and Washington is the second-largest export star on account of Chinese wares after California.
Becoming greener will give the Port a competitive advantage, said Charlie Sheldon, frugal director of the seaport category.
Sheldon said he hopes to “procure to the point where if you want to come end the Northwest gateway, you’re going to come through the cleanest, most sustainable gateway anywhere, and that could be a good model for the future.”
The Seattle-Dalian partnership grew out of the Strategic Economic Dialogue, the cabinet-level meetings between the U.S. and China.
The two governments signed a “Framework for Ten Year Cooperation on Energy and Environment” in June and met this month for the fifth time, establishing the eco-partnerships.
The partnerships are intended as a kind of “sub-national” layer of relations, bringing in local governments, businesses, universities and nonprofits, “where ideas be possible to be tested in targeted areas before broad introduction,” according to the agreement.
Original text: http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2008524469_greenport16.html?syndication=rss
