Monday, October 3, 2016

AUSMEPA selected as Google Impact Challenge finalist for Port Emissions Portal project

4 October 2016

Google.org today announced that AUSMEPA’s Port Emissions Portal has been selected as one of ten finalists in the 2016 Google Impact Challenge in Australia, which awards funding to Australian non-profit innovators with big ideas for a better world.


AUSMEPA’s project, the Port Emissions Portal, addresses the current lack of essential ship emissions data for the shipping industry. Utilising satellite tracking and a big data approach, the platform will enable ports and their stakeholders to measure air quality and changing air patterns throughout the port environs.

“AUSMEPA’s clear mandate is to protect Australia’s maritime environment, and one of the biggest challenges we are facing is climate change. This is not just a local issue, however action has to start at a local level. With shipping’s exclusion from the COP21 global agreement on the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, we are taking a leading role in providing the industry with effective solutions” said AUSMEPA Chairman, Capt Warwick Norman.

Starting in Australia and scaling up to over 170 countries, AUSMEPA’s port emissions portal plans to connect over 3,000 ports and improve the knowledge of air emissions associated with shipping activities in port.

As part of an international community of MEPAs (Marine Environment Protection Associations) Capt Norman said "AUSMEPA’s plan was to work with their international counterparts to provide a locally-initiated, global solution to shipping’s contribution to greenhouse gas emissions."

AUSMEPA could be one of four organisations to receive a $750,000 grant to further to assist in developing the port emissions portal. The six additional finalists will receive $250,000.

A judging panel will select three winners, and a fourth will be selected based on public voting, which is open from 4 – 25 October via https://impactchallenge.withgoogle.com/australia2016/charity/ausmepa

Alan Noble, Google Australia’s Director of Engineering, said “We know good ideas combined with technology can help to solve some of the world’s biggest challenges. Ten Australian non-for-profits have been selected as finalists in the latest round of the Google Impact Challenge for their outstanding ideas to use technology to make an impact on important causes.”

AUSMEPA are encouraging all maritime industry stakeholders around the world to support their initiative and vote for increased transparency and improved knowledge of air emissions caused by shipping activity in ports.

Anyone can go online and vote in favour of the AUSMEPA project here



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About AUSMEPA
The Australian Marine Environment Protection Association (AUSMEPA) is dedicated to protecting Australia’s marine environment, which hosts an abundance of precious marine resources and an array of fine beaches.
AUSMEPA is a not-for-profit supported by leading maritime companies, individuals and organisations. Funds raised are used to create no-cost, innovative and practical educational resources for schools, seafarers and other users of the marine environment.
At the forefront of tackling issues that directly affect Australia’s marine environment, AUSMEPA are partnering with maritime vetting specialists RightShip to develop a ‘port emissions portal’. This platform will provide transparent data on shipping emissions by monitoring the air quality and changing air patterns in port environs.
AUSMEPA is a founding member of the International Association of Marine Environment Protection Associations (INTERMEPA) www.intermepa.org
AUSMEPA Chairman, Captain Warwick Norman, was also elected as Chairman of INTERMEPA in June 2016.

For further information
Julie Nash - Executive Officer
0412 876 109          

www.ausmepa.org


www.ausmepa.org.au

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