California and Shanghai proceed with green shipping corridor initiative

Transportation and environmental policy leaders from California state agencies and the ports of Long Beach, Los Angeles, and Shanghai gathered on 12 May to discuss ongoing maritime decarbonization efforts.

The discussions focused on the development of a Green Shipping Corridor between California and Shanghai.

Hosted by the Port of Long Beach, the California-Shanghai Maritime Decarbonization and Green Shipping Corridor High-Level Forum brought together representatives from the California State Transportation Agency (CalSTA), the California Air Resources Board (CARB), the California Energy Commission (CEC), and the Shanghai Municipal Transportation Commission (SMTC).

Key organizations, including the California-China Climate Institute (CCCI), the Port of Long Beach, the Port of Los Angeles, the International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT), and C40 Cities, played a crucial role in coordinating the event.

The forum emphasized the significance of infrastructure development and regulatory policies in advancing international green shipping corridors.

In addition, the Chinese delegation featured representatives from the Shanghai International Port Group, COSCO Shipping Holdings Co., Shanghai Maritime University, and the China Classification Society. The event also welcomed government officials, technical and policy experts, industry leaders, environmental justice advocates, and academic researchers.

“Transportation and goods movement continues to be a critical part of the backbone of our strong and thriving economy, and we are thrilled to join forces with Shanghai Municipal Transportation Commission in this important work,” commented Toks Omishakin, California Transportation Secretary.

“Our team at CalSTA looks forward to continued cooperation with our ports and international partners as we collaborate in our efforts to decarbonize goods movement in the maritime sector.”

“The Port of Shanghai is the busiest container port in the world,” stated SMTC Deputy Director General Ye Xing. “We value our partnership with the State of California and have established productive working relationships with the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach. Together, we are committed to advancing port decarbonization and developing green shipping corridors.”

California and China have maintained an open dialogue on climate collaboration over the years. In 2023, California Governor Gavin Newsom visited China and reaffirmed a commitment to advancing shared climate goals, including reducing greenhouse gas emissions and promoting clean energy.

Five cooperative agreements were signed during his visit, including a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between California and Shanghai to enhance clean, low-carbon transportation. This agreement aligns with ongoing efforts by the Ports of Los Angeles, Long Beach, and Shanghai to decarbonize one of the world’s busiest container shipping routes.

At the forum, leaders highlighted the Green Shipping Corridor Partnership Annual Progress Report, first published in October 2024 by the Port of Long Beach, the Port of Los Angeles, C40 Cities, and SMTC. The report details significant advancements in reducing maritime emissions.

The Los Angeles – Long Beach – Shanghai Green Shipping Corridor aims to deploy ships with reduced or zero lifecycle carbon emissions and expand clean marine fueling infrastructure across partner ports.

The forum facilitated discussions among global leaders, providing a deeper dive into the essential components of green shipping corridors and identifying opportunities for further collaboration in this rapidly evolving sector.

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