About Green Shipping Corridors
The climate is changing: Rising temperatures, extreme weather events and irreversible damage to ecosystems are threatening the lives and livelihoods of people around the planet. The ocean shipping industry is responsible for 3% of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions worldwide. Ships produce the vast majority of their GHG emissions while they are sailing between ports.
Without change, greenhouse gas emissions from the shipping industry are projected to double by 2050. In 2023, the International Maritime Organization established goals to achieve net-zero lifecycle carbon emissions by 2050. The Port of Los Angeles is partnering with ports around the world to establish Green Shipping Corridors, frameworks for public-private collaboration that enable the industry to reach these aggressive greenhouse gas reduction goals.
A green shipping corridor is a route between two or more ports where zero-emission shipping solutions are demonstrated and reported. Lower emissions are achieved through the advancement of technological, commercial, or regulatory initiatives along the route. The aim is to jointly create an economically sustainable transition to low-emission shipping.
Green Shipping Corridor Agreements
The Port of Los Angeles is partnering with the busiest ports in Asia to create green shipping corridors. This ambitious undertaking requires voluntary commitments and substantial resources from multiple public and private sector players.
Under green shipping corridor agreements, ports and their partners are collaborating to deploy the most advanced equipment, technologies, fuels and best policies and management practices for decarbonizing cargo operations from origin to destination. Individually and through international partnerships, the U.S. and California are among a growing number of governments worldwide advancing green shipping corridor initiatives to reduce climate change and strengthen economies.
Under green shipping corridor agreements, ports and their partners are collaborating to deploy the most advanced equipment, technologies, fuels and best policies and management practices for decarbonizing cargo operations from origin to destination. Individually and through international partnerships, the U.S. and California are among a growing number of governments worldwide advancing green shipping corridor initiatives to reduce climate change and strengthen economies.
To date, the Port of Los Angeles has entered into MOUs with the following global port partners:
- Singapore: Maritime Port Authority of Singapore
- Japan: Nagoya Port Authority, Port of Tokyo and Port of Yokohama
- China: Port of Shanghai and Port of Guangzhou
- Vietnam: Long Son Port in Vung Tau Province, and Nam Do Son Port in Hai Phong City
Los Angeles (LA) - Long Beach (LB) - Shanghai Municipal Transportation Commission Green Shipping Corridor
Leveraging its long-standing relationship with the Port of Shanghai, the Port of Los Angeles is partnering with the world’s busiest container port to eliminate vessel emissions from one of the world’s busiest shipping routes. The three ports, major shipping lines, leading cargo owners, and C40 Cities committed to this initiative in January 2022. In September 2023, the parties unveiled their Green Shipping Corridor Implementation Plan Outline, followed by a detailed Work Plan in January 2024.
Los Angeles (LA) - Long Beach (LB) - Singapore Maritime Administration Digital and Green Shipping Corridor
The Port of Los Angeles is working with the Port of Long Beach, the Port of Singapore, C40 Cities, and other leading goods movement stakeholders to establish a corridor focused on deploying low- and zero-carbon vessel fuels and digital tools and accelerating their use. In December 2023, the three ports unveiled their Partnership Strategy for a green and digital shipping corridor connecting their global gateways at the 28th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP 28). In April 2024, the partners published a baseline study analyzing fleet traffic between the port complexes and the shipping corridor's total energy supply and demand.