- Ports commit to phased zero-emission plans through 2029.
- New CAAP Plus measures to target vessel and truck emissions.
- Officials highlight collaboration, sustainability, and job protection.
The Long Beach Board of Harbour Commissioners has given a thumbs-up to a collaborative agreement with the South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) and the Port of Los Angeles, aiming to create zero-emissions infrastructure at the largest port complex in the nation. The SCAQMD Board had already greenlit this agreement on November 7, reports Port of Long Beach.
Time-Bound Commitments for Cleaner Operations
As part of this agreement, the ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles will roll out plans for zero-emission infrastructure across various types of equipment in three phases. A draft plan is set to be ready by May 2027, with finalised plans for all categories expected by the end of 2029. These initiatives build on the groundbreaking Clean Air Action Plan (CAAP), which has successfully cut diesel particulate matter by 90%, nitrogen oxides by 68%, and sulfur oxides by 98% since 2005.
Next Steps Under CAAP Plus Measures
In the coming months, the ports will collaborate with SCAQMD on CAAP Plus measures to reduce emissions from oceangoing vessels, the largest source of pollution. Potential actions include:
- Expanding Environmental Ship Index Incentive Programs.
- Utilising Clean Truck Fund Rate revenue to back zero-emission trucks and infrastructure.
- Launching an incentive program for zero-emission drayage truck usage.
- Holding annual consultations with SCAQMD to discuss spending priorities.
Leaders Emphasise Collaboration and Sustainability
“We are pleased to move forward with this cooperative agreement and accelerate the progress we’ve achieved by making our operations cleaner and more efficient,” said Long Beach Harbor Commission President Frank Colonna. “It will deliver tangible results and a sustainable future without risking jobs or cargo throughput.”
“I commend the South Coast Air Quality Management District for its willingness to compromise, and all of the work by staff from the agency and both ports in recent months to develop this agreement in a transparent and open process,” said Port of Long Beach CEO Mario Cordero. “Collaboration has been a key to our success in reducing environmental impacts. Together, with the participation and active support of the ports, SCAQMD, labor, industry, energy suppliers and utilities, technology developers and community representatives – which this agreement will intensify – I am confident we can reach our shared goal of a zero-emissions future.”
“Environmental progress and economic leadership are no longer competing goals – they must move forward together,” said Long Beach Mayor Rex Richardson. “This collaborative agreement marks a major step toward a more sustainable port complex that protects community health, advances our climate action commitments and strengthens regional economic growth with good-paying jobs. By accelerating zero-emission infrastructure, we will deliver cleaner air, healthier neighborhoods and a greener global supply chain that reaches far beyond our two cities.”
Next Approval Steps
The Los Angeles Harbour Commission is set to vote on this agreement at its next regular meeting on November 20. Once it gets the green light, the three parties will officially sign the agreement. The CAAP Plus measures are anticipated to be finalised by spring 2026.
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Source: Port of Long Beach
