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LA Councilwoman calls on top port importers to use zero-emission ships
Environment Oct 05, 2021
Photo courtesy of Raimond Spekking/Wikimedia Commons
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City Councilwoman Nithya Raman Tuesday called on the top maritime importers in Los Angeles to commit to making all port calls to the San Pedro Port Complex via zero-emission ships by 2030.
“Pollution from ships often goes overlooked in our greater conversations on climate change, but the reality is that ship pollution contributes to an estimated 260,000 premature deaths each year globally, and at least 1,300 premature deaths annually in Los Angeles and Long Beach alone,” Raman said.
“Our low-income communities of color living near ports are suffering from higher rates of childhood asthma, cancer, and more, and we simply do not have time to waste to reverse the damage. This resolution is one step towards ensuring we are doing everything in our power to create healthy, breathable port communities.”
The shipping industry is one of the largest polluters in the world, with a billion metric tons of carbon dioxide emitted every year, more than all coal plans in the United States combined, the resolution notes. Forty percent of ships with cargo imports brought into the country come through the Port of Los Angeles and Port of Long Beach.
Raman’s resolution, which was seconded by Councilmen Paul Koretz and Mark Ridley-Thomas, calls on Walmart, Ashley Furniture, Target, Dole, Home Depot, Chiquita, IKEA, Amazon, Samsung, Nike, LG, Redbull, Family Dollar, Williams-Sonoma and Lowes to immediately adopt technologies that reduce emissions, including wind-assisted propulsion and slow-steaming, and commit to only using 100% zero emissions ships at the San Pedro Port Complex by 2030.
“With the horrific oil spill in beautiful Huntington Beach, with extreme climate impacts worsening every day around the world, as we reduce the city’s emissions through our LA100 renewable energy and Climate Emergency Mobilization Office efforts, we must include every sector related to the city in our scope,” Koretz said. “Zero emissions shipping is essential to our success in keeping our climate safe and Los Angeles habitable for generations to come.”
