CA Ports lead trade mission to Japan, advancing global maritime decarbonization with Trans-Pacific green shipping corridor

The California Association of Port Authorities joined the California-Japan Trade Mission of 2025, showing the strength of Trans-Pacific partnerships that have resulted in significant trade and environmental resilience between the world’s third-and-fourth largest economies.

California ports are committed to policies that will help reduce emissions and combat climate change. In recent years, the ports have inked numerous agreements with ports throughout the Asia-Pacific region to establish green shipping corridors, shipping routes on which zero-emission ships and other emissions reduction programs are deployed.

“California ports are the most consequential drivers of trade in the world,” said California Association of Port Authorities Executive Director Martha Miller. “We are proud of the considerable environmental progress we have made to reduce emissions and advance clean energy through green shipping corridor programs.”

Through partnership with trade partners, California ports have achieved:

• Shore Power Capability: Approaching 100% shore power capability on both ends of the corridor, a critical step in reducing emissions from vessels at berth.
• Alternative Marine Fuel: Working with the private sector to prepare for clean energy refueling infrastructure to support the next generation of vessels.
• Zero-Emission (ZE) Capable Ships: In 2024, welcomed the first ZE-capable ship on the corridor route, marking a major implementation milestone.

The initiative has ambitious goals for the future, demonstrating California's leadership in sustainable shipping. By 2030, the project aims to introduce the world's first Zero-Lifecycle Carbon Emission Container Ships and ensure the necessary clean fuel infrastructure is in place to support them. These efforts will continue to drive the adoption of clean marine fuels and set a global standard for decades to come.

Additional Green Shipping Corridor milestones include:

• Hydrogen and Zero-Emission Technologies: Japanese companies like Toyota Tsusho America and NYK Line are piloting hydrogen-based technologies and zero-emission cargo handling equipment at California ports. California is complementing these efforts with major investments in hydrogen hubs and refueling infrastructure for zero-emission port and freight vehicles, supported by California State Transportation Agency (CalSTA) and California Energy Commission (CEC) grants.

• Green Automotives: The establishment of a Green Automotive Shipping Corridor has presented an opportunity to enable the manufacturing, transit, and import of zero-emission vehicles through the Port of Hueneme, with a commitment to creating a green automotive pipeline for bringing green vessels and vehicles through the State of California

• Shared Decarbonization Goals: Japan has committed to net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, while California’s goal is 2045, creating a shared vision for sustainable maritime transport.

The 11 major commercial ports that comprise CAPA handle 38% of all containerized imports and 28% of all exports in the U.S. – reaching every corner of the country.