Sacramento, CA – Today, the California Association of Port Authorities applauded the announcement that the State of California would partner with Japan to establish green shipping corridors and solutions that will combat global warming.
The letter of intent signed in Tokyo on Tuesday by members of the Newsom Administration and officials from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism of Japan aims to enhance trade and climate action between the world’s third- and fourth-largest economies.
In the coming months, CAPA will work closely with the 11 public seaports in California to align with the letter of intent’s framework and highlight California Ports’ leadership with key stakeholders in Japan. Across our state, California Ports have consistently led the way on environmental stewardship and decarbonization while still remaining competitive in a challenging economic environment.
CAPA President and Port of Oakland Executive Director Danny Wan, who joined Lieutenant Governor Eleni Kounalakis, Transportation Secretary Toks Omishakin, Air Resources Board Chair Liane Randolph, GO-Biz Director Dee Dee Myers, and Energy Commissioner Patty Monahan in Tokyo for the announcement said, “California Ports are proud to work hand-in-hand with state policymakers and leaders in Japan on this important initiative. Our ports have built a record of going above and beyond environmental regulations and we’re proud to work on innovative, green solutions that will accelerate decarbonization.”
The signing is a centerpiece of a weeklong trade mission to Japan led by Lieutenant Governor Kounalakis and Director Myers with California business leaders – including Wan, Port of Long Beach Executive Director Mario Cordero, Port of Los Angeles Executive Director Gene Seroka, and CAPA Executive Director Martha Miller.
CAPA has been a strong advocate for enhanced investments in infrastructure across the state’s supply chain. The organization played a prominent role in advocating for the Port and Freight Infrastructure Program, a historic $1.2 billion investment in infrastructure initiatives across the state. Core components of the program include green shipping corridors, port decarbonization, and the deployment of human operated zero-emission transportation.
The 11 major commercial ports that comprise CAPA handle 38% of all containerized imports and 28% of all exports in the U.S. – reaching every corner of the country. Collectively, the California Ports are the most consequential system of ports in the nation.
Letter of Intent – Summary
California Signatories: Transportation Secretary Toks Omishakin; GO-Biz Director Dee Dee Myers; Air Resources Board Chair Liane Randolph; Energy Commissioner Patty Monahan.
Japan Signatories: Ichiro Takahashi, Director-General Maritime Bureau; Osamu Horita, Director-General Ports and Harbors Bureau; Shigenori Hiraoka, Director-General International Affairs.
Notable Witnesses: State Minister Toshiro Toyoda, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism of Japan; Lieutenant Governor Eleni Kounalakis; Assemblymember Al Muratsuchi; Port of Long Beach Executive Director Mario Cordero; Port of Los Angeles Executive Director Gene Seroka.
Key Action: Deepen cooperation, information-sharing and discussion of best practices between the governments of California and Japan to support the development of green shipping corridors, expand offshore wind and cut planet-warming pollution at ports in Japan and California.