Trans-Pacific shipping to navigate a green course

The commitment to a sustainable and environment-friendly shipping corridor between Shanghai and California remains unwavering, industry insiders say.

During the Shanghai-California Maritime Decarbonization and Green Shipping Corridor Forum held at the Port of Long Beach on March 17, business leaders from both sides reaffirmed their dedication to the initiative, which aims to decarbonize trans-Pacific shipping and bolster economic ties.

"Transportation and goods movement continue to be a critical part of the backbone of our strong and thriving economy, and we are thrilled to join forces with Shanghai Municipal Transportation Commission in this important work," said Toks Omishakin, California's transportation secretary, adding the state looks forward to continued cooperation with international partners, including China.

Over the years, California and China have engaged in an open dialogue on climate cooperation. During his visit to China in 2023, California Governor Gavin Newsom committed to strong collaboration to advance shared interests related to climate action, the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, and the acceleration and deployment of clean energy.

The visit witnessed the signing of five cooperative agreements. One memorandum of understanding between California and Shanghai aims to advance clean, low-carbon transportation, including developing clean ports and green shipping.

Goals in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Shanghai green shipping route include deploying reduced or zero life-cycle carbon-emission capable ships and facilitating investment in clean marine fueling infrastructure at the partner ports.

Ye Xing, deputy director of Shanghai Municipal Transportation Commission, said productive working relationships with the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach have been established.

"Together, we are committed to advancing port decarbonization and the essential development of green shipping corridors," he said.

Collaborative efforts

At the forum, stakeholders highlighted the collaborative efforts between the Port of Long Beach, the Port of Los Angeles, C40 Cities, and Shanghai Municipal Transportation Commission in advancing maritime decarbonization.

"Decarbonizing goods movement between the largest ports in the United States and China requires international cooperation, and that's exactly what we're doing through our work on the Green Shipping Corridor Partnership," said Eugene Seroka, executive director of the Port of Los Angeles.

The Port of Long Beach unveiled a white paper that explores the adoption of clean marine fuels in shipping.

"The Green Shipping Corridor linking California and Shanghai represents a tremendous opportunity for sustainable progress," said Mario Cordero, CEO of the port.

However, escalating trade tensions between the U.S. and several nations, including China, are increasingly posing a risk for global free trade.

"We need to kind of step back and see how this plays out," Cordero told China Daily at an event in Los Angeles. "When the dust settles, everybody realizes how important the partnership between the U.S. and China is."

He emphasized the benefits of working together, particularly in reducing emissions and enhancing sustainability. "Our partnership with China's COSCO Shipping and ZPMC has been a very beneficial economic partnership — not just for the Port of Long Beach, but for the state of California and the United States," he said.

Cordero has visited Shanghai many times since his first trip in 2006 and has witnessed the rapid advancements in the city's port infrastructure and environmental policies.

"It is an amazing story of what we have seen, or what I've seen in Shanghai between 2006 and 2024," he recalled. "And I want to thank the Chinese government and our sister ports in China for committing to decarbonization."