The Port of Long Beach has joined the ports of Los Angeles, Rotterdam, Hamburg, Barcelona, Antwerp and Vancouver in launching the World Ports Climate Action Program.

According to the Port of Long Beach, the group will develop projects to address global warming and meet the goals outlined in the Paris Agreement, the United Nations-led effort to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

“This partnership helps to raise awareness about global warming throughout the port industry and ensures that we are working toward the same goals on an international scale,” said Mario Cordero, executive director of the Port of Long Beach. “For us to make an impact, it really needs to be a global impact. Improving the air quality in Southern California is important, but we need to work together globally to make a real difference when it comes to dealing with climate change.”

The programme focuses on five specific actions: increasing efficiency of supply chains using digital tools, advancing common and ambitious policy approaches aimed at reducing emissions within larger geographic areas, accelerating development of renewable energy for shore power and other zero-emission solutions, accelerating development of commercially viable low-carbon fuels for maritime transport and infrastructure for electrification of ship propulsion systems, and accelerating efforts to eliminate fossil fuel use in cargo-handling facilities in the ports.

To achieve those goals, each port has agreed to work with government regulators and maritime industry stakeholders to develop policies aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions and to provide financial support in developing clean technologies for the shipping and logistics industry.

“The Port of Long Beach’s approach to growing in a sustainable and responsible manner is creating good jobs while preserving our environment,” said Tracy Egoscue, president of the Long Beach Board of Harbor Commissioners. “Joining this coalition of forward-thinking ports will allow us to both contribute and innovate at a faster pace. We are the Green Port of the Future and by joining this coalition we continue to lead our industry to a sustainable future.”