In the file photo, a diesel airport shuttle bus can be seen replacing it at Newark Airport from the front window of an electric bus. According to the authorities' ambitious NetZero plan to eliminate greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, the diesel buses seen on the right will be replaced by electric vehicles.

Port Authority officials announced a comprehensive initiative to eliminate the agency’s greenhouse gas air pollution by the middle of this century, but environmentalists say that part of the plan relies on some less environmentally friendly measures.

Port Authority officials stated that the authority approved the NetZero plan on November 18, which will make it the first transportation agency to achieve President Joe Bidens’ goal of eliminating greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. It exceeds the goal set by Governor Phil Murphy to reduce the state's greenhouse gas emissions by 80% by 2050.

NetZero has a new temporary goal of eliminating or offsetting 50% of greenhouse gas emissions under direct government control by 2030. According to Biden's plan, by 2050, it will raise the authority's 2050 target from 80% to 100% of all net zero emissions.

However, some environmentalists questioned part of the plan, saying that it includes non-environmental strategies, such as buying and selling carbon credits, which they believe can be offset, but will not reduce air pollution.

"NetZero refers to the state of eliminating or offsetting greenhouse gas emissions," said Derek Utter, authoritative chief development officer. "This means a very clear path."

The plan has four components. Reiterate the goal of reducing the emissions under the control of the authorities by 35%, and set a new goal to reduce these emissions by 50% by 2030, increase the target from 80% to 100% or NetZero by 2050, and adopt 12 to achieve and A new step in measuring progress," Utter said.

The 12 steps are divided into four categories: electrification, use of renewable energy, sustainable and energy-efficient buildings, and partnerships. This includes the proposed replacement of the Port Authority Bus Terminal.

"We will announce a method next year to develop a strategy for all electric vehicles, not only our own vehicles, but also vehicles using Port Authority facilities," Utter said.

Our #NetZero project is taking off. ✈️ The sustainable #aviation fuel (SAF) logistics and production report commissioned by the Port Authority and executed by @NREL to support the adoption has just been released. #climatechange #cop26 pic.twitter.com/MaHxrrHx2m

He said that over the years, the authorities have planned to provide incentives and work closely with industry leaders, "so we have a path to electrification of vehicles and other use of our facilities." "The hardest thing for us to decipher is the emissions from airplanes and ships."

All government vehicles will be turned into electric vehicles, including increasing passenger fleets of electric shuttle buses between the airport terminal and parking lot, replacing diesel-powered “trailers” that transport aircraft around the airport with electric vehicles, and for cargo The loading and unloading equipment does the same thing, he said, the port vehicles.

The plan calls for the electrification of 100% of the Authority's light fleet by 2030 and 50% of the medium fleet by 2035.

Utter said that the authorities' buildings will be more energy efficient and use "on-site solar" electricity. Electricity purchased from commercial grids will be purchased from suppliers with renewable energy sources.

"We will launch a series of solar and fuel cell projects," he said. "We have some global leaders using our facilities. We have the opportunity to work with the biggest players in the world."

The absolute scope of the initiative and goals was praised by an environmental organization.

"The Port Authority’s NetZero goal is actually a breath of fresh air in the Ironbound community of Newark, and it has shown to other government agencies that it is possible to take immediate and decisive action to achieve the goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 50% by 2030 , Exceeding the state’s climate action goals," said Bill Belen, president of the Sierra Club Transportation of New Jersey. "This is very important for New Jersey because 45% of our pollution comes from trucks and buses."

We are on the road to becoming #NetZero. Before the @COP26 United Nations#ClimateChange meeting, we announced positive measures to achieve #NetZero emissions by 2050 to meet the #GHGs emission reduction target of the Biden government. @WhiteHouse @SecretaryPete Learn more: https://t.co/NFQJhsCBlS pic.twitter.com/cmTWjYaQJZ

Other agencies, such as NJ Transit, "need to follow the leadership of the Port Authority" and put their electric buses into use so that they can transition to 100% electric buses by 2035," he said. NJ Transit purchased 8 electric buses The vehicles are used in pilot projects to provide data on how to expand them throughout the system.

Amy Goldsmith, New Jersey director of the Clean Water Initiative and chairman of the Healthy Harbor Alliance, said other environmentalists have criticized NetZero for using carbon trading and carbon offsets with other locations that cannot reduce pollution.

Carbon credits, or offsets, are credits obtained by a place or company by removing one ton of carbon dioxide or other greenhouse gases from the atmosphere. Other companies or institutions can trade or purchase these carbon dioxide or other greenhouse gases to promote their pollution reduction goals.

"It involves carbon trading, and we oppose it. It trades pollution from one location for pollution from another location, harming port communities and the already suffering black and brown communities," she said. "Offset is an accounting technique to avoid decarbonization."

Other activists who spoke via video at the Port Authority board meeting on November 18 pointed out that Newark’s greenhouse gases and pollution may be generated by the Amazon Air Cargo Hub at Newark Liberty Airport approved by the Port Authority on August 5.

Port Authority officials said that NetZero is in its infancy and is likely to develop.

"We have proposed a series of initiatives, these are all out-of-the-box initiatives," said Rick Cotton, the agency's executive director. "We welcome suggestions, and we welcome comments. We are at the beginning of our commitments and we will be committed to implementing them."

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