Although you are likely aware of the low pay and poor working conditions workers experience as they make our clothes and electronics in other parts of the world, but have you ever considered the shipping process itself?
Imagine what a shipping port looks like – you probably see stacked crates, people driving forklift loads of merchandise and huge ships pulling in and out. In today’s world, however, this is but a fantasy.
Since 1970, the amount of goods shipped by sea has grown fourfold. Asian-made clothing, cars, sneakers, computers and cell phones account for much of that increase.
Shipping has become so cheap that it makes more sense financially for Scottish cod to be sent 10,000 miles to China to be filleted and then sent back to Scottish shops and restaurants than to pay Scottish filleters.
This economy of scale translates into fewer greenhouse gases emitted per ton shipped per mile: 11 grams of CO2 emissions by ship compared with 40 by rail, 110 by truck and 1193 by air. The same proportions are true for other toxic emissions such as nitrous oxide and particulate matter.
A
Loading...