MONTERREY, NL. – Global warming also affects trade, the economy and supply chains, said the United States Customs and Border Protection Office (CBP).
Carlos Ochoa, Branch Chief Communications, Standards, and Policy CTPAT Program Office of Field Operations of the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) , said via video call that climate change is an enormous challenge not only for companies, but for governments.
During the panel Working to Support CBP’s Green Strategy at the event organized by the International Trade Security Cluster , he mentioned this phenomenon not only affects the logistics chain, but also supply chain security.
He explained that phenomena such as floods or fires that have occurred in different countries cause containers to be stopped, as well as trucks to be unable to circulate.
“Supply chains are being severely affected by climate change. Stuck cargo is cargo at risk, obviously when it is stuck in a yard or port, on a ship or near a border, someone can break the seal,” he said.
He also explained that this phenomenon also affects transportation, human potential and production.
He said, for example, that the drought has had an impact on the Yangtze River in China and on the movement of ships and cargo. At the same time, it has had an impact on the Panama Canal and its consequences on the supply chain.
“Extreme temperatures affect product production, they affect human potential. Climate change affects us all and companies differently. The more specialized the supply chain is, such as the semiconductor industry, the clearer the impact can be for an intermediate player, since the supply of a critical input may only be available from the source that has been interrupted,” said Carlos Ochoa.
However, he said that supply chains are also key to fighting climate change “because as companies we must help with this global challenge, because it is key to work with supply chains since they generate around 60% of carbon emissions worldwide and at the same time are being affected, that is where we have the dilemma.”
For this reason, he said that companies must adopt various actions such as adopting advanced data management practices, developing reverse logistics plans for the reuse of products, use of electric vehicles, use of biofuels, among others.
While customs must also face this challenge, CBP, through the green strategy implemented in 2022, seeks to encourage green trade, accelerate green innovation, and improve resource efficiency and climate resilience.
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