First announced in January by C40 Cities, the ports of Shanghai and Los Angeles, and key maritime stakeholders, this green shipping corridor will be a big step toward decarbonising shipping between the busiest ports in China and the United States.

C40 Cities is a network of cities that are working to deliver the urgent action needed to confront the climate crisis and intends to achieve these goals by developing a “Green Shipping Corridor Implementation Plan” by the end of 2022 that will include deliverables, goals and interim milestones, and roles for participants.

The green shipping corridor partnership decarbonisation goals include:

• The phasing in of low, ultra-low, and zero-carbon fuelled ships through the 2020s with the world’s first zero-carbon transpacific 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
• Improving air quality in the ports of Shanghai, Los Angeles and Long Beach, and adjacent communities.

“This initiative builds on important efforts our port participates in, including the World Ports Climate Action Program, an international commitment to develop projects to address global warming and meet the goals outlined in the Paris Agreement,” Mario Cordero, Port of Long Beach Executive Director, commented.

“It also complements the Clean Air Action Plan and supports our shared goals to reduce carbon emissions and advance technologies, especially for vessels, which are our largest source of emissions.”

“Accelerating efforts to decarbonise the shipping sector is urgent if we are to limit global heating to 1.5 degrees Celsius,” C40 Executive Director Mark Watts said. “By convening a powerful coalition that includes the San Pedro Bay ports complex, the Port of Shanghai and key maritime industry stakeholders, we hope to be an important catalyst in decarbonizing supply chains of all kinds around the world, while also creating a replicable model for other port cities to follow.”