Port of Long Beach reaffirms commitment to environment

The Long Beach Board of Harbor Commissioners on Monday celebrated the 10^th anniversary of the Port of Long Beach’s historic Green Port Policy by honoring its originators and reaffirming their commitment to environmental sustainability. Thanks to the many the Policy’s many successes, air quality and water quality have dramatically improved and the Port of Long Beach has become a recognized leader in environmental stewardship among seaports around the world. In unanimously adopting a resolution Monday to reaffirm the Port’s commitment to the Green Port Policy, today’s Commissioners said they were determined to broaden its promise.

“Protecting the environment is one of the great challenges of the 21st century, and the biggest success of our Green Port Policy is yet to come as we see our programs being adopted at ports around the world—and our industry free of emissions and completely sustainable,” said Harbor Commission President Doug Drummond. On Monday evening, the current Harbor Commission also honored six former commissioners for their roles in initiating and setting in motion the Green Port Policy in 2005. Former Commissioners Mario Cordero, James C. Hankla, John Calhoun, Doris Topsy-Elvord, John Hancock, and Dr. Mike Walter received proclamations thanking them for their work. Adopted on Jan. 31, 2005, the Green Port Policy is a groundbreaking, aggressive pledge to protect air, water, community and wildlife, and to consider the environment in all of its day-to-day activities. Significantly, the Port committed that new development would be “green growth” and would work to improve the environment as much as bring trade to the region. Read about the Green Port Policy’s track record. Read about the Green Port Policy At the Port of Long Beach, the world’s greenest terminal is under construction, pioneering anti-pollution measures have led to dramatic clean air gains, and thriving sea life coexists with one of the busiest container ports in the world. The air has 82 percent less diesel emissions from Port sources, Port officials routinely engage with the public, clean trucks visit the terminals and the world’s only hybrid tugboats roam the harbor. As the Port moves towards more zero-emission technology the reliance on electricity is increasing. Chief Executive Jon Slangerup’s “Energy Island” program will explore options to bring sustainable power technologies into the Port, satisfy its own electricity needs and to serve as a resource to the community in emergencies. The Port of Long Beach is one of the world’s premier seaports, a leading gateway for trans-Pacific trade and a trailblazer in innovative goods movement, safety and environmental stewardship. The Port handles cargo valued at $180 billion each year, supporting 1.4 million jobs in the United States. In 2014, Long Beach was named the world’s “Best Green Seaport” by its customers in Asia in recognition of the Port’s industry-leading environmental sustainability projects.