The Port of Long Beach has joined the Shanghai-Los Angeles Green Shipping Corridor, which is a partnership of C40 Cities, shipping companies, ports and cargo owners that aims to form a zero-emissions trans-Pacific trade route.
The partnership will work toward achieving the goals by formulating a “Green Shipping Corridor Implementation Plan” by the end of this year. This plan will include goals, deliverables and milestones and define the roles of the participants.
Some of the decarbonization goals set by the partnership includes the phasing in of low, ultra-low, and zero-carbon fueled ships and the development of best management practices to reduce emissions and improve efficiency of ships.
“Accelerating efforts to decarbonize the shipping sector is urgent if we are to limit global heating to 1.5 degrees Celsius,” C40 Executive Director Mark Watts said. “By convening a powerful coalition that includes the San Pedro Bay ports complex, the Port of Shanghai and key maritime industry stakeholders, we hope to be an important catalyst in decarbonizing supply chains of all kinds around the world, while also creating a replicable model for other port cities to follow.”
“This initiative builds on important efforts our Port participates in, including the World Ports Climate Action Program, an international commitment to develop projects to address global warming and meet the goals outlined in the Paris Agreement,” said Port of Long Beach Executive Director Mario Cordero about the latest development. “It also complements the Clean Air Action Plan, and supports our shared goals to reduce carbon emissions and advance technologies, especially for vessels, which are our largest source of emissions.”
Long Beach Harbor Commission President Steven Neal added that the Port of Long Beach has several environmental initiatives planned with an aim to reaching zero-emission terminal operations by 2030 and truck operations by 2035.
