Dubai-based DP World, said it has become the first global marine terminal operator to join the renowned carbon disclosure project (CDP) building on its company-wide effort to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

One of the largest marine terminal operators in the world, DP World has 50 terminals and 11 new developments and major expansions across 31 countries.

This initiative is part of DP World’s broader global sustainability programme to reduce its environmental footprint, said a statement from the company.

The company is making significant progress in reducing resource consumption cutting its carbon emissions with a five-year strategy launched in 2009, when it reduced the absolute carbon emissions of its terminals and businesses by 4.24 per cent and 3.52 per cent when normalised against TEU throughput against a 2008 base year, it added.

DP World reported this reduction to CDP, which collates protocols and emissions’ data for companies around the world. DP World has disclosed greenhouse gas emissions of 830,715 MT of CO2-equivalent at its operational terminals for 2009 (867,533 in 2008).

Mohammed Sharaf, chief executive officer, DP World, said: 'We recognise that environmental and carbon issues are increasingly important to our stakeholders, including customers, investors and business partners.'

'Energy management and GHG emission reduction are integral to DP World’s global sustainability strategy. By reporting on them, we support positive action and environmental change while continually working to raise awareness and reduce the impact of our operations,' he remarked.

Established in 2000, the CDP is a disclosure and reporting framework used by 3,000 of the world's largest companies to report their greenhouse gas emissions and climate change strategies.

This data is made available for use by a wide audience including institutional investors, corporations, policymakers and their advisors, public sector organizations, government bodies, academics and the public.

Charles Haine, global environment manager, DP World, said: 'Energy consumption and carbon emissions in the transportation supply chain is a critical global issue with significant social and environmental implications, and all of us need to be part of the solution.'

'For the last two years DP World has made it a priority to radically improve accuracy of our energy measurement and carbon monitoring in line with principles of the Greenhouse Gas Protocol Corporate Standard. Joining the CDP is another important and transparent step in demonstrating our commitment to tackling climate change,' he added.

Going forward, DP World has set a goal to reduce GHG emissions at its terminals by 27 per cent by 2013 under its five-year plan, Haine noted.-TradeArabia News Service