Los Angeles and Shanghai will work together by partnering their ports, shipping companies and a network of cargo owners to create the first green shipping corridor on one of the world’s busiest container routes.
Picture: Tom Fisk/ Pexels
Convened by C40 Cities, this new partnership could see the movement of goods between the largest ports in the US and China move towards becoming carbon neutral, with an implementation plan to be delivered before the end of 2022.
Industry news platform Offshore Energy says the key decarbonisation goals for the corridor include:
- The phasing in of low, ultra-low and zero-carbon fuelled ships through the 2020s, with the world’s first zero-carbon trans-Pacific 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 and Los Angeles and adjacent communities.
‘International collaboration is essential to decarbonise global supply chains,’ said Gene Seroka, executive director of the Port of Los Angeles.
The shipping industry is responsible for 940 million tonnes of CO2 emissions annually; that is 2.5% of global emissions. Recognising the need to adapt, the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) has mandated emission reductions of 50% for all vessels by 2050.
Green shipping corridors are premised on the establishment of zero-emission maritime routes. The IMO along with 20 other countries signed the Clydebank Declaration, a commitment to the establishment of six green corridors.
It is promising to see two leading cities from countries with major political differences pulling together to maintain their commitments to the declaration and tackle the greatest challenge humanity has ever faced.
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