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SCOTLAND plans to reduce emissions by implementing a new tax on cruise ships calling in the country. This initiative was initiated by the Green Party which highlights the problems of pollution and overtourism.
Lorna Slater, one of the leaders of the Scottish Green Party, said her party and regional government partners empowered councils to charge levies on cruise ships.
“That way they get a worthy investment, and our goal is to encourage cruise ships to be more environmentally friendly,” he said. The new tax is expected to address the challenges of emissions and the impact of ships on local communities.
Slater explained that this scheme is important because one ship can produce the same number of emissions as 12 thousand cars. Cruise ship operators have been allowed to avoid pollution for too long.
Cruise ship controversy for local residents
More than 815 thousand cruise ship passengers traveled to Scotland in 2019 to destinations including Oban and Leith.
Orkney Council recently announced plans to limit the number of boats that can visit at one time. Meanwhile, in the Cromarty Firth, cruise ship crew were asked not to sound their horns after receiving noise complaints. More than 1,000 people signed a petition supporting the trumpet blast.
Cruise tourism can be controversial as some local communities complain about crowds and pollution. In a study released earlier this year, Southampton was declared one of the most polluted cruise ports in Europe.
Barcelona, Europe’s most polluted port and a major shipping destination, recently closed one of its central city ports to cruise ships. This ban is a step to reduce emissions near city centers.
Instead, cruise ships are allowed to dock in the city’s southern harbor, along the Moll Adossat pier. But this port is less strategic because it is far from the city center. [tempo.co/photo special]
