Participants from ports around the Pacific Rim, Asia, the Americas, and Europe gathered in Los Angeles this week to discuss innovations and best practices for reducing emissions from port-related operations.
The two-day Pacific Ports Clean Air Collaborative conference was hosted by the Port of Los Angeles in collaboration with the Commission for Environmental Cooperation and the US-China Green Ports and Vessels Initiative. The conference included representatives from shipping and cruise lines, terminal operators, regulatory agencies, trucking and logistic companies, and universities.
“Our sincerest appreciation to all conference attendees for their efforts to advance greener ports, cleaner vessels and new technologies that benefit the environment, and advance economic growth,” said Jane Nishida, Principal Deputy Assistant Administrator of the Office of International and Tribal Affairs at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA). “It’s inspiring to see so many of our global partners committed to improving air quality and to implementing initiatives for greener and cleaner goods movement across the Pacific Rim.”
The mission of the Pacific Ports Clean Air Collaborative—an organization founded in 2006 by the Ports of Los Angeles and Shanghai, China along with the U.S. EPA and the U.S. Maritime Administration—is to share information among trade partners, collaborate on common air and environmental issues, and evaluate potential mitigation measures and solutions. Themed “Policies, Technologies and New Opportunities,” this year’s conference was the fifth time the Collaborative has met since 2006, the third time in Los Angeles.
“Information sharing and continued dialogue among ports globally has been key to finding sustainable solutions that both protect the environment and allow for steady economic growth,” said Gene Seroka, executive director at the Port of Los Angeles. “When ports work together, we maximize environmental outcomes far beyond what can be accomplished by any single entity. The Port of Los Angeles is pleased to play a leadership role in keeping the momentum going.”
Conference panels covered a wide range of topics, from air emission planning to control, compliance and fuel usage, to specific solutions and incentives for reducing at-berth ship emissions. Representatives from the Port of Los Angeles, Shanghai Municipal Transportation Commission, the Ministry of Environmental Protection in China, and MAERSK presented recent findings on the link between improvements in port operational efficiencies and reductions in air pollution. Marine ecosystems, noise impacts and mitigation, as well as current and emerging zero-emission technologies were also among topics covered over the two-day event.
The Port of Los Angeles is America’s premier port and has a strong commitment to developing innovatively strategic and sustainable operations that benefit Southern California’s economy and quality of life.
North America’s leading seaport by container volume and cargo value, the Port of Los Angeles facilitated $284 billion in trade during 2017. San Pedro Bay port complex operations and commerce facilitate one in nine jobs in the five-county Southern California region.
