The Port of Los Angeles has signed Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) with the Port of Tokyo and the Port of Yokohama to collaborate on environmental and sustainability issues, including the establishment of green shipping corridors.
The agreements were signed during the 2023 California Japan Clean Energy Business Mission, led by California Lieutenant Governor Eleni Kounalakis and Dee Dee Myers, Director of the California Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development.
Lieutenant Governor Kounalakis praised the MOUs as a reflection of the strong relationship between California and Japan and their shared commitment to addressing climate change. “The California-Japan port partnership is a world-leading collaboration and a critical step toward achieving zero greenhouse gas emissions,” he said.
The MoUs call for cooperation and the sharing of best practices on environmental and sustainability initiatives, including digitizing the supply chain to optimize efficiencies and reduce port operational impacts. The ports of Tokyo and Yokohama also agreed to establish a Green Shipping Corridor (GSC) partnership with the port of Los Angeles next year, with the goal of reducing emissions along their respective trade lanes and promoting low-emission ships and fuels. carbon or zero.
Green shipping corridors are partnerships between ports that aim to reduce emissions along their respective trade routes and promote low- or zero-carbon ships and fuels. The goal of the GSCs is to create a network of ports that prioritize sustainability and the environment, and work together to reduce the environmental impact of the shipping industry.
The Port of Los Angeles has established GSC partnerships with several other ports, including the ports of Shanghai and Singapore.
Other areas of cooperation identified under the two agreements include the testing and deployment of zero emission vehicles, cargo handling equipment and vessels; explore energy use and alternative energy sources; and cooperate on initiatives related to pollution abatement technologies for terminals, transoceanic vessels, and drayage trucks.
“The Port of Los Angeles is proud of the role it has played in advancing port-related environmental technologies and supply chain decarbonization solutions, but we can do so much more with ports and other international stakeholders working together. . I am delighted to be in Japan collaborating with our long-time partners at the ports of Tokyo and Yokohama,” said Gene Seroka, CEO of the Port of Los Angeles.
The Port of Los Angeles and the Port of Yokohama have a long history of cooperation, dating back to a trade agreement signed in 1969 to strengthen trade routes between the two ports. The Port of Los Angeles and the Port of Tokyo formalized a Port Brother relationship in 1987.
The week-long California Japan Clean Energy Trade Mission 2023, which began on March 11, is aimed at companies in the clean energy sector to explore solutions related to climate change, renewable energy, zero-emission technologies and others. sustainable products and services.
During the event, the California State Transportation Agency (CalSTA) signed a Letter of Intent with Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transportation and Tourism to support green transportation corridors, decarbonization of ports, and the deployment of zero transportation. emissions across $1.2 billion from California. Port and Cargo Infrastructure Program, with awards for the historic single program scheduled to be announced later this month.
“We applaud the latest collaboration between California and Japan to clean up our ports and end pollution from ships, and urge their collaboration to focus on driving immediate emissions reductions, scaling absolute zero emissions technologies, and ultimately, achieve 100% zero emissions. emissions shipment by 2040,” said Allyson Browne, Ports for People Climate Campaign Manager, Pacific Environment.
