The tourism boom brought to Portugal every year with new record figures and brings a lot of money in the crisis country. But he is causing ever greater environmental problems, which are ignored by the government.
Sweet rang the coffers of the tourism in the Portuguese capital never: Around 30 million passengers came in 2018, an increase by a whopping 81 percent in just the past five years.
In the newly built cruise ship in the port of Lisbon in 2019, at least 600,000 tourists from aboard are to go, more than 300 ocean-going giants to lay there, now an annual event. However, the ongoing tourist boom brings not only a lot of money, but, above all, major environmental problems that nobody wants to take care of.
“Unlike, for example, in Frankfurt, there are in Lisbon as well as no night flight restrictions. And the few that there are numbers in terms of aircraft, are not being met,” says Francisco Ferreira, of the environmental organization Zero.
The activists have re-measured and came to disastrous results, alone at the noise: 66,2 decibels instead of the allowed 50 night of 74.5 decibels rather than 65 during the day. In the middle of the city, in a residential area on the edge of the University of Lisbon: “The country of aircraft, the thunder of only a hundred feet above the house roofs, the inhabitants, especially in the high season in the summer is not a quiet Minute.” Get around to it, so environmentalists Ferreira, the heavy burden of fine dust and airplane exhaust.
The cruise tourists soon see the first of Portugal: The new cruise terminal in Lisbon.
Tourism strengthened environmental impact
Not much healthier life, Lisbon is at the other end of the city, the Tagus river. There was built two years ago for the more than 50 million euros, a modern cruise Terminal, since also the Zero-environmentalists measured load values to the heavens stink.
The port of Lisbon is the sixth-most polluted in Europe in terms of sulphur dioxide and fine dust; all the cruise ships off the Portuguese coast because of the boom, also increasing in number – emit 86 percent more sulfur dioxide than the entire car traffic in the country. “It is true that Lisbon is now at the cross more popular than Barcelona,” notes Ferreira. “But if a ship is in port, the noise in the old town and the air pollution in the port is much too high.”
In Portugal, the competent authorities and the politicians of defense. “Although the government is always talking about sustainability and emissions neutrality, does not dare to the environment,” says the environmentalist, Francisco Ferreira. Because the tourism industry now accounts for far more than 15 billion euros in revenue in the year, the duration of the crisis, the country urgently needs. So the environmental protection is rather business-friendly, even in the case of serious rule violations, like a blind eye.
The new cruise terminal is modern, cool and ambitious – and ready to leave thousands at a time in the city.
Exhaust gas measurement? Like, if the EU paid for it
The state is doing nothing. Or more precisely: He does in any case less than the health of its own citizens could be done. Unlike in many ports, can cruise ships are in Lisbon, not to the public power grid connected to reduce noise and exhaust gases. You will only be encouraged to burn less of the harmful diesel oil, as long as you have created.
The exhaust gas measuring stations to be set up, if they are prescribed by the EU, and then also subsidized. Although now almost every day a ship in Harbor is located, courting the state, and Lisbon’s mayor undeterred, even more cruise ships.
At the airport, the situation is even more dramatic: of The is not only almost in the middle of the city, it bursts from the seams. During the day, the Jets make a noise almost continuously, but in the capacity is to be increased. Soon, the holiday should land on machines almost by the minute. “Often more than 30 take-offs and landings per night, although only 26 are admitted,” says Francisco Ferreira. “In our environmental organization Zero, more and more local residents complain!”
The consequences, however, don’t: The port-competent sea Ministry rejected the suggestion, all the rules were observed. And in terms of the airport, the Ministry of environment is silent and add to the illegal Night, as well as to the dangerous environmental impact. The competent authorities, it only took care of the compliance with the law.
Francisco Ferreira from the environmental organisation Zero at work.
New airport, old errors
“As the government in terms of tourism projects on the environment, the planned second airport of Lisbon”, criticized environmentalists Ferreira: will be planned on the verge of an important bird and nature reserve on the South Bank of the Tagus river. “The now presented environmental study on any of the proposed alternative locations. The government is trying to stop the discussion about whether or not a minimum of a further 40 years, the airport is in the middle of the city.”
The supplementary airport, the government has decided to come up with 50 million euros cheaper than a new large airport. And although the study of significant environmental identifies problems -especially noise pollution for residents of neighboring cities – calls for the construction.
The results can now be publicly contradicted, the environmental organisation Zero has already done it. “We will fight until the end against this environmentally damaging solution,” says Francisco Ferreira. “Even if it now looks like we have little chance of success.”
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Cruise-Ranking: The worst PollutersSad Outcome:
76 of 77 cruise vessels use poisonous heavy fuel oil as a fuel. The Naturschutzbund (Nabu) assumes, that this is already a ocean giant emits as much pollutants as five million Cars would do it on the same route.
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Cruise-Ranking: The worst PollutersA little impressive “best of” list
The Nabu has investigated 76 ships and their environmental pollution by exhaust gases. Only one driving without a heavy oil, only 14 improve your emissions, for example through the SCR catalytic Converter or shore power use in port. 61 ships for the last available place.
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Cruise-Ranking: The worst PollutersAIDAnova place 1
This is the only cruise ship that is operated with the less harmful liquefied natural gas LNG. It has just been made by the Meyer Werft shipyard in Papenburg, Germany finished.
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Cruise-Ranking: The worst PollutersNot good, just better
To see the new additions of Hapag-Lloyd Cruises (here: the “Europe 2”) and TUI Cruises ‘ use of at least nitrogen oxide catalysts, and can be supplied during the operation of the Port with shore power.
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Cruise-Ranking: The worst PollutersThe most important defect
A particulate filter, these two giants have not. This leads to anything other than a fresh sea air during the trip. The fine-particle-density of the Deck is up to 20 times higher than on a busy street.
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Cruise-Ranking: The worst PollutersBreathe a sigh of relief thanks to the LNG
The Nabu is praised by the winner of the test AIDAnova and hopes to imitators. Particularly affected residents in the vicinity of the coast and port cities are likely to benefit from a large-scale conversion to LPG and improved air quality.
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Cruise-Ranking: The worst PollutersProgress in climate protection? Wrong!
A study by the Federation of Transport and Environment recognizes no significant advantages of the liquid gas, LNG, compared with Diesel, when it comes to climate protection. Without a massive technological change in shipping, the Paris climate targets will not be met.
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Cruise-Ranking: The worst Polluters“Entry bans for dirty cruise ships”
The calls NABU CEO Leif Miller. Because a significant improvement through technological change is not in sight. The luxury liners, the danger arising to the health of residents and on sensitive Ecosystems, to curb in the short term, there would be acute need for action.