Shipping companies and ports pledge to cut carbon emissions in Pacific

Container shipping has transformed global trade. Now transport companies, ports, and others are banding together to make shipping in the Pacific Ocean more sustainable.

Founded by the C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group, the Green Shipping Corridor Implementation Plan Outline sets a timeline for the maritime industry to deploy new technology and other measures to curb carbon emissions.

“Less polluting ships and ports will also mean cleaner air, less noise and more jobs for local communities,” said C40 Executive Director Mark Watts in a September 22 press release.

Group members will begin deploying ships that emit less carbon in 2025 and endeavor to deploy the first net-zero-carbon-emission ships by 2030 They will also work to implement new technologies and institute new policies to cut energy consumption and decarbonize shopping and port-related work, like using more shore power and developing cleaner fueling facilities in commercial marine settings.

Joining the effort are the Ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles in California, Shanghai in China, as well as major companies like CMA CGM, COSCO Shipping Lines, Maersk, ONE, and other organizations like the China Classification Society, and the Maritime Technology Cooperation Centre of Asia.

“This trans-Pacific green corridor will be a model for the global cooperation needed to accelerate change throughout the maritime industry,” Gene Seroka, executive director of the Port of Los Angeles,” Gene Seroka, executive director of the Port of Los Angeles. “Most of the emissions associated with moving cargo by ship occur in the mid-ocean part of the journey between ports. This corridor will help reduce mid-ocean emissions while continuing the work we have done to cut emissions within our ports.” ce/jd