CA Ports highlight green shipping corridors and trade partnerships at APEC Summit

The California Association of Port Authorities (CAPA) hosted an event last night that featured members of the Newsom Administration, Lieutenant Governor Eleni Kounalakis, foreign dignitaries, and California port leaders to discuss global trade partnerships and highlight green shipping corridor programs.

The event was held in conjunction with the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit in San Francisco. California port executives expressed their firm pledge to advancing the state’s commitment to zero-emission port and shipping activities and developing additional partnerships along vital trade corridors that power the global economy.

The state’s two-way trade with APEC member economies totaled $536 billion last year, or 77.2% of all California trade – and served as a platform to highlight the state’s efforts to rapidly cut the sector’s carbon footprint. International maritime shipping accounts for roughly 3% of planet-warming pollution worldwide.

“California ports connect the United States to the world, serving as a vital economic engine between our nation and the Asia-Pacific region,” said Lieutenant Governor Eleni Kounalakis, who serves as California’s Representative for International Affairs and Trade. “Recently, we have made historic progress in creating new trans-Pacific partnerships to electrify port operations and establish green shipping corridors. California must continue that progress by expanding clean energy and clean transportation programs that will create good-paying jobs.”

“Every day, California Ports work closely with APEC partners to expand economic opportunities and advance environmental initiatives to fight climate change,” said CAPA executive director Martha Miller. “Our ports are proud to be a part of APEC, celebrating our state’s deep economic connection and environmental initiative with APEC nations. Together, we can ensure that California and the Asia-Pacific community achieve prosperity now and thrive for future generations to come.”

In just the past year, the Newsom Administration has forged numerous climate compacts with governments in China, Australia and Japan focused on electrification and low-carbon green growth, and California ports have inked nine different agreements with ports throughout the Asia-Pacific region to establish green shipping corridors. Notably, last month the Port of Los Angeles signed a memorandum of understanding with the Port of Guangzhou to partner on sustainability initiatives on the same day Governor Newsom visited the Chinese city.

“Bolstered by historic investments and strong state support, California’s ports are leading the nation in the transition to zero-emission operations and forging alliances that expand and strengthen our influence as a global leader in clean transportation,” said California Transportation Secretary Toks Omishakin.

“In many ways, California’s future begins at our ports – places that drive the interconnection with so many of our APEC partners across commerce and trade, and that provide the ecosystem for those partners to build upon one another’s investments to drive sustainable growth and decarbonization,” said Dee Dee Myers, Senior Advisor to the Governor and Director of GO-Biz. “The state’s recent, historic supply chain investments will not only support our drive to realize that sustainable future, but also improve efficiency and direct access to our ports for those who use them every day including our industry leaders, small businesses, and international trade partners.”

During the event, the California State Transportation Agency (CalSTA) and the Japanese Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism released a summary report from the Port Decarbonization and Green Shipping Corridor Symposium held last month at the Port of Los Angeles.

The California Association of Port Authorities (CAPA) comprises 11 major deepwater port authorities across our state. The port authorities that comprise CAPA are responsible for handling 38% of all containerized imports and 28% of all exports in the U.S. California Ports are a major driver of quality, good-paying jobs. More than 1 million California jobs and 3 million jobs nationally are linked to trade through CAPA member ports.