California Ports – Environmental Stewards

California is home to the most environmentally friendly port facilities and operations in the world. California ports have collectively reduced the emissions related to port operations by over 70% for diesel particulate matter, 70% for sulfur oxides, 50% for nitrogen oxides and reduced greenhouse gas emissions by 20%, respectively since 2005. The impact of greener and more sustainable port complexes has led to cleaner air and significant reductions in the health risks posed by air pollution from port-related activities. California ports have made tremendous strides in improving air quality in the neighborhoods surrounding port areas by adopting comprehensive environmental mitigation plans, implementing new technologies and often exceeding state and federal regulatory targets.

California ports are dedicated to being good stewards of the public resources they manage and to improving their business practices towards cleaner, greener, healthier and more sustainable practices. The scale and nature of individual port environmental initiatives vary, but all of California’s public port authorities are committed to being outstanding environmental stewards.

Examples of Environmental Programs at California’s Public Ports

In 2006, the port of Long Beach and Los Angeles jointly established the San Pedro Bay Ports Clean Air Action Plan, a landmark comprehensive strategy to significantly reduce emissions. The Plan established the Ports’ Clean Trucks Programs and vessel pollution reduction programs, and incorporated advanced new technologies, such as the world’s first hybrid tugboat, among other successful activities. Along with reaching emissions reduction goals ahead of schedule, the San Pedro Bay Ports reduced greenhouse gas emissions more than any individual stationary or transportation sector source.

Similarly, the Port of Oakland implemented rigorous and innovative environmental programs – including the Maritime Air Quality Improvement Plan, the Comprehensive Truck Management Plan, the Shore Power Program, the Habitat Restoration and Park Development program, and their Clean Water Program – to improve the environmental quality in and around their operations.

The Port of San Diego developed The Green Port Program to achieve long-term environmental, societal and economic benefits through resource conservation, waste reductio and pollution prevention. The Green Port Program unifies the Port’s environmental sustainability goals in six key areas. As part of the program, the Port sets measurable goals and evaluates progress in each area on an annual basis.

The goods movement industry in California has been and continues to be committed to maintaining environmentally sound and sustainable maritime practices and developing environmentally-friendly port operations. Improving air quality, protecting water quality and enhancing wildlife protection are among California’s highest priorities, and California has the highest standards of environmental rules governing port operations in the world. In addition, industries across the supply chain have been creating and successfully implementing ambitious, innovative and cutting-edge environmental improvement programs, which exceed our already high state and federal requirements.