Port of Long Beach joins world’s 1st transpacific green shipping corridor

The US Port of Long Beach (POLB) has signed on to the Shanghai-Los Angeles green shipping corridor, a partnership of C40 Cities, ports, shipping companies and cargo owners convened to create a zero-emissions transpacific trade route.

First announced in January by C40 Cities, the ports of Shanghai and Los Angeles, and key maritime stakeholders, this green shipping corridor will be a big step toward decarbonising shipping between the busiest ports in China and the United States.

Moreover, it is one of the first green maritime routes announced following the signature of the Clydebank Declaration at COP26.

C40 Cities is a network of cities that are working to deliver the urgent action needed to confront the climate crisis and create a future where everyone, everywhere can thrive. The partnership intends to work together to achieve these goals by developing a “Green Shipping Corridor Implementation Plan” by the end of 2022 that will include deliverables, goals and interim milestones, and roles for participants.

“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,” Mario Cordero, Port of Long Beach Executive Director, commented.

“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.”

“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.”

“The Port of Long Beach has an arsenal of environmental initiatives, with an ultimate goal of reaching zero-emission terminal operations by 2030 and truck operations by 2035,” Steven Neal, Long Beach Harbor Commission President, noted.

“Joining the Green Shipping Corridor extends our influence outside of our own city, seeks to decarbonize shipping operations, and reinforces our commitment to balancing economic activity with sustainability.”

Key decarbonization goals for the green shipping corridor partnership include:

• The phasing in of low, ultra-low, and zero-carbon fueled ships through the 2020s with the world’s first zero-carbon transpacific containerships introduced by 2030 by qualified and willing shipping lines.
• The development of best management practices to help reduce emissions and improve efficiency for all ships using this international trade corridor.
• Reducing supply chain emissions from port operations, and improving air quality in the ports of Shanghai, Los Angeles and Long Beach, and adjacent communities.

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