CBP Summit Focuses on Green Trade, Green Supply Chains
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) recently hosted its inaugural summit focusing on green trade, green supply chains, and international trade decarbonization.
The goal of the Green Trade Innovation and Incentives Forum was to bring members of the government, private, nonprofit, and academic sectors together to discuss ideas for creating a greener economy and review some of the challenges that exist surrounding trade and supply chains.
Speakers at the summit, which was held at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office in Alexandria, Virginia, highlighted the “critical nexus between climate change, environmental stewardship, economic growth and innovation, and trade policy and processes.”
CBP Acting Commissioner Troy Miller told attendees that CBP is “uniquely positioned to promote a global green trade environment through cutting-edge practices and enforcement” and that CBP is “setting an example for customs authorities around the world to develop greater standards for global trade and collaborate with industry, stakeholder stakeholders and the public.”
Green Trade Strategy
The summit comes about a year after CBP introduced its Green Trade Strategy, noting that global supply chains may account for up to 80 percent of total carbon emissions and that environmental crime rakes in as much as $265 billion a year for criminal enterprises.
The strategy has four main goals: incentivize green trade to promote trade practices that are environmentally friendly, strengthen environmental enforcement posture, accelerate green innovation, and improve climate resilience and resource efficiency.
While CBP achieved a nearly 70 percent reduction rate in scope one and scope two greenhouse gas emissions in fiscal year 2022—nearly double its goal—Acting Commissioner Miller told attendees more needs to be done.
“We continue to assess and reduce scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions at facilities with the greatest amount of annual energy consumption, and at facilities that combust fuels onsite for heating, cooling, and other energy needs,” Acting Commissioner Miller said. “We also continue to implement measures to bring our real estate portfolio to net zero or close to net zero.”
Acting Commissioner Miller pointed to a variety of green-related projects already underway including ways to boost cargo processing efficiency at the border, focusing on lighting solutions to improve performance and minimize essential costs, and investing in the development of digital supply chain technologies.
Other speakers at the event included executives from the DHS Office of Science and Technology, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), Department of State, as well as executives from Under Armour, Boston Consulting Group, REI, and DHL Express.