Ports of Los Angeles and Shanghai Launch ‘Green Shipping Corridor’ to Reduce Emissions from One of the World’s Busiest Trade Routes

The Port of Los Angeles and Port of Shanghai have announced a partnership to create a “first-of-its-kind” green shipping corridor in a bid to reduce emissions from one of the world’s busiest trade routes.

The Green Shipping Corridor partnership, launched with the C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group, will work towards developing key decarbonization goals and implement a plan for the green corridor by the end of 2022, including deliverables, milestones, and roles for the partnership.

The goals for the green corridor will include items like phasing in of low, ultra-low, and zero carbon fueled ships through the 2020s, with the world’s first zero carbon trans-Pacific container ships planned to be introduced by 2030.

The partnership will also work towards developing best management practices to help reduce emissions and improve efficiency for all ships using the trade corridor, and reducing supply chain emissions from port operations, and improving air quality in the ports of Shanghai and Los Angeles and adjacent communities.

The Green Shipping Corridor partnership was initiated buy The City of Shanghai, the City of Los Angeles, the Port of Shanghai (through the Shanghai Municipal Transportation Commission), the Port of Los Angeles, and C40 Cities, a network of nearly 100 mayors of the world’s leading cities.

“International collaboration is essential to decarbonize global supply chains. We look forward to partnering with the Shanghai Municipal Transportation Commission, the Shanghai International Port Group, leading shipping lines and major cargo owners to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the maritime supply chain. It’s time to get started on this important work,” said Gene Seroka, Executive Director for the Port of Los Angeles.

Shipping partners include A.P. Moller – Maersk, CMA CGM, Shanghai International Ports Group (SIPG), COSCO Shipping Lines, the Aspen Institute’s Shipping Decarbonization Initiative, facilitators of Cargo Owners for Zero Emission Vessels (coZEV), and the Maritime Technology Cooperation Centre – Asia.

“Accelerating efforts to decarbonize the shipping sector is urgent if we are to limit global heating to 1.5 degrees. By convening international coalitions of the willing and creating a scaleable and replicable model for other cities to follow we hope this ground-breaking green shipping corridor initiative will catalyze action on a global scale,” said Mark Watts, Executive Director of C40 Cities.

During the UN COP26 climate summit held in November, a coalition of 19 countries agreed to create zero emissions shipping routes to speed up the decarbonization of the global ocean shipping industry, which accounts for nearly 3% of the world’s CO2 emissions.

The UN International Maritime Organization (IMO) has set an initial strategy to reduce overall greenhouse gas emissions from shipping by 50% from 2008 levels by 2050, but the agency is under increasing pressure to adopt a more ambitious target in-line with 2015 Paris Agreement on climate change.

Dan Porterfield, President and CEO of the Aspen Institute, says “The Aspen Institute is proud to support this important international collaboration. Through our Shipping Decarbonization Initiative and in our role as the facilitator of the Cargo Owners for Zero Emission Vessels initiative, we look forward to working with our partners to help enable the deployment of the first vessels powered by zero life-cycle greenhouse gas emission fuels along this critical shipping route and to making this green corridor project a model of success for the rest of the world. It is inspiring that the United States and China have come together in this way to address the climate impact of this crucial global industry.”

Unlock Exclusive Insights Today!

Join the gCaptain Club for curated content, insider opinions, and vibrant community discussions.

Sign Up