The governments of California and Japan have announced a new partnership aimed at cutting emissions at seaports and establishing green shipping corridors.
Both governments inked a Letter of Intent (Lol) on port decarbonisation and green shipping corridors on 15 March in Tokyo.
The Japanese Ministry, the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development, the California Air Resources Board, and the California Energy Commission will share expertise and best practices on critical efforts to cut port-related pollution, including strategies for offshore wind development and zero-emission fuels and infrastructure.
The California State Transportation Agency will support green shipping corridors, port decarbonisation, and the deployment of zero-emission transportation through the $1.2 billion Port and Freight Infrastructure Program, as noted in the Lol.
The signing is a centrepiece of a weeklong trade mission to Japan led by Lieutenant Governor of California, Eleni Kounalakis and GO-Biz Director, Dee Dee Myers, along with California business leaders.
“California’s strategic port and freight infrastructure investments and enhanced collaboration with Japan will help reduce the carbon footprint of a key sector of our economies and make the state’s green port projects more competitive for upcoming federal grants through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act,” said California Transportation Secretary, Toks Omishakin.
READ: California key ports get $94 million grants for port enhancements
The partnership is a step towards fulfilling Governor Newsom’s historic climate executive order, which he issued in 2020 and established a target of 100 per cent zero-emission drayage truck operating by 2035.
The Lol builds on the partnership Governor Newsom forged last March to enhance trade and climate action between the world’s third and fourth largest economies.
“Today’s historic collaboration further strengthens California’s strong economic and trade partnership with Japan and takes meaningful action on our shared commitment to tackling climate change,” said Kounalakis.
The announcement comes six months after Maersk Performance Team deployed its first Class 8 battery-electric trucks from Volvo Trucks North America in Southern California.
