The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey recently adopted the Paris Climate Agreement, the first U.S. public transportation agency to do so.
The port authority is part of the We Are Still In coalition.
The agreement set a target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) 35 percent by 2025 and 80 percent by 2050.
The port authority produces the emissions equivalent of 3.6 billion tons of coal burned annually.
“New York and New Jersey are providing strong leadership in the fight to reduce GHG emission to mitigate future climate change,” Rick Cotton, port authority executive director, said. “Today the Port Authority is stepping up to reduce our emissions and committing to a leadership role in reducing the agency’s own carbon footprint, and in seeking ways to reduce emission throughout the transportation sector.”
The port authority has established several measures to improve sustainability and environmental protection at its facilities. These measures include electric vehicles.
Goals include having 50 percent of light-duty vehicles run on electric, having 36 all-electric shuttle buses at airports, establishing a fast-charging “hub” at JFK airport, adding the port authority’s first electric cargo equipment – in partnership with Maher Terminals – and converting airside equipment to electric.