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United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs Sustainable Development

Emissions reduction from International Shipping through the use of the Panama Canal route

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Government
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#OceanAction40992
Description
Description
Since its opening in 1914 the Panama Canal has reduced time and distances. More than a million vessels have used the route through Panama, cutting distances, reducing costs and changing the pattern of world trade. The expansion of the Canal has enlarged the capacity for cargo transportation on this route, thereby setting new standards for maritime trade and industry.

The Panama Canal route with its expanded canal offers the maritime industry the opportunity to transport greater volumes of cargo using fewer ships. Moreover, it will reduce CO2 emissions and require fewer cargo movements by comparison with other air, road and rail transport systems.

Over its 103 years of operation, the Panama Canal Green Route is calculated to have saved approximately more than 650 million tonnes of CO2 emissions. It is estimated that the Green Route including the expanded Canal will save over 160 million tonnes of CO2 in its first 10 years of operation.

The Panama Canal has developed software that automatically calculates the CO2 and harmful emissions associated with maritime transport, incorporating different routes and cargo transport modes. Among the criteria used in developing this tool, two stand out: it should be easy to use and, the calculation method should be consistent. The inputs used in calculating CO2 and harmful emissions are: type of ship, amount of cargo, mode of transport, origin and destination of cargo.
Partners
Panama Canal Authority
False
Action Network
Ocean conference wheel logo
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Timeline
01 July 2016 (start date)
01 July 2026 (date of completion)
Entity
Panama Canal Authority
SDGs
Geographical coverage
Panama, Panama
Other beneficiaries
maritime transportation system around the world
Ocean Basins
North Atlantic, North Pacific
Communities of Ocean Action
Ocean acidification, Scientific knowledge, research capacity development and transfer of marine technology
Website/More information
N/A
Countries
Panama
Panama
Contact Information

Carlos Vargas, Vicepresidente Ejecutivo de Ambiente, Agua y Energa