TITLE
Recommendation to inform the Harbor Department of the following City Council recommendations and requested actions and coordinate with them as necessary to explore discussions with another major international port city with the intentions of creating a green shipping corridor similar to the one in development between the Ports of Los Angeles and Shanghai, including exploring joining the Los Angeles/Shanghai clean shipping corridor as a partner;
Add support for legislation or administrative action to rapidly decarbonize the maritime shipping industry and to create green shipping corridors along the California coast, the West Coast of the United States, and across the trans-Pacific trade route to the City’s 2022-2023 State and Federal Legislative Agendas;
Request City Attorney to draft resolution calling on top maritime importers to Long Beach to adopt existing emissions-reducing technologies and take steps towards making port calls to the San Pedro Port Complex on zero-carbon ships by 2030; and
Pursue all the above items with a focus on incentives and provide input on incentive types.
DISCUSSION
On April 22, 2022, the Climate Action and Environmental Committee (CAEC) discussed green shipping and heard from advocates and members of the public. The CAEC also heard from Harbor Department staff about the current and future activities of the Port of Long Beach and regulatory actions by the State of California to decrease pollution from shipping activities.
The CAEC indicated support for green shipping efforts including the establishment of green shipping corridors with partner ports, legislative and administrative actions to rapidly decarbonize the maritime shipping industry, adding these items to the City’s legislative agendas, and for a resolution that would call on maritime importers to take steps towards using zero-carbon ships at the San Pedro Port Complex by 2030. This resolution should be based on the Ship it Zero campaign’s resolution and largely mirror the City of Los Angeles green shipping resolution passed on October 9, 2021. For all of these steps, CAEC indicated that incentives should be a focus, and that the Committee and Council should provide additional input on incentive types.
Between the April 22 CAEC meeting and the June 21 City Council meeting, the Port of Long Beach has already joined the Los Angeles-Shanghai Green Shipping Corridor Initiative, a partnership of cities, ports, shipping companies and cargo owners. The initiative is focused on decarbonizing goods movement along one of the world’s busiest container shipping routes between the United States and China. Port staff will participate in the upcoming discussions to develop goals and implementation details by end of this year and will work with the partners in the coming years to carry out the initiatives. Key decarbonization goals will include phasing in of zero carbon fueled ships as well as reducing emissions from port-related operations and adjacent communities.
This matter was reviewed by Deputy City Attorney Erin Weesner-McKinley on June 9, 2022 and by Budget Manager Grace H. Yoon on June 9, 2022.
EQUITY LENS STATEMENT:
Staff will consider issues of equity and access with any program proposals brought forward to ensure the City’s commitment for everyone reaching their highest level of health and potential for a successful life, regardless of background, neighborhood, or identity.
TIMING CONSIDERATIONS
City Council approval is requested on June 21, 2022, to ensure inclusion of the City’s support for these measures is registered by the State and Federal governments.
FISCAL IMPACT
This recommendation transmits the Climate Action and Environmental Committee (CAEC) recommendations for the City Council to provide direction that includes requesting the City Manager inform the Harbor Department of the following City Council recommendations and requested actions and coordinate with them as necessary to develop green shipping corridors and explore joining the Los Angeles/Shanghai corridor. The recommendation also includes adding support for legislative and administrative actions on green shipping to the City’s legislative agendas. Finally, the recommendation includes a resolution calling on maritime importers to Long Beach to take steps towards decarbonizing the ships they use by 2030. The requested actions are anticipated to have a minimal to moderate staffing impact beyond the normal budgeted scope of duties and a minimal to moderate impact on existing Council priorities. There is no local job impact associated with this recommendation. There is no local job impact associated with this recommendation.
SUGGESTED ACTION
Approve recommendation.
Respectfully Submitted,
CINDY ALLEN, COUNCILWOMAN, CHAIR, CLIMATE ACTION ENVIRONMENTAL COMMITTEE
SECOND DISTRCT