The First Annual California Ports Day took place on February 21, 2018, at the State Capitol in Sacramento, CA and was deemed a great success by members of the state Legislature, their staff, maritime and freight industry leaders, as well as members of the general public who participated in the day’s activities.
“Ports Day is intended to raise awareness of the immense economic benefits and environmental leadership Ports bring to the state. We hope to connect citizens and legislators to the goods inside the ships loading at our Ports. As consumers, large percentages of what we wear, eat, drive, and use to communicate come through the ports”, said Kristin Decas, President of the California Association of Port Authorities (CAPA) and Port of Hueneme CEO & Port Director.
CAPA, which is comprised of the state’s eleven publicly-owned ports, organized the daylong event, which included participation from each of California’s ports as well as freight industry partners. The day commenced with a briefing taking place in one of the historic committee rooms of the state Capitol, where a standing room-only crowd learned about the important economic and environmental leadership California ports provide. Ms. Decas explained the vital role ports play as gateways to our freight transportation system which is responsible for one-third of California’s economy and jobs.
Port of Long Beach Executive Director, Mario Cordero, along with Heather Tomley, Port of Long Beach Director of Environmental Planning, and Chris Cannon, Director of Environmental Management at the Port of Los Angeles, highlighted the remarkable environmental improvements California ports have made over the last decade, as well as continuing improvement efforts that make our ports global leaders in environmental stewardship.
California’s largest ports report emissions reductions on the order of:
- 80% in particulate matter reductions;
- 90% in SOx reductions;
- 50% in NOx reductions; and
- Significant GHG reductions
After the Capitol Briefing, port and industry leaders participated in nearly 50 meetings with Legislators and key staff in the Capitol. During the day, a large tent and California import-export products display was set-up on the north steps of the State Capitol. Booths set up in the tent highlighted the contributions of each of California’s eleven public ports and provided information to the public. In addition, the Port of Los Angeles’ TransPORTer – a mobile interactive display of port operations – was open for tours.