Air quality: LA Port emissions drop significantly, but tough hurdles remain

Citing its 2023 emissions inventory results in a report delivered Thursday, Oct. 3, the Port of Los Angeles said air pollution from port sources is at its lowest levels since 2005 when the port began tracking emissions from all sources that move cargo through the gateway.

“To put this data in perspective, we are down to the last 9% of diesel particulate matter and the last 2% of sulfur oxides from anything with an engine that moves cargo through our gateway,” said Port of L.A. Executive Director Gene Seroka in a written comment. “While what remains of these and other pollutants are the toughest to eliminate, we continue to partner with all our stakeholders to drive emissions down to zero.”

The port’s 2023 inventory of air emissions shows increased turnover of trucks and locomotives to newer, cleaner models as well as a wider use of renewable diesel to power terminal equipment, locomotives and harbor craft, and ongoing efficiency measures resulting in more fluid cargo operations, port officials said in a news release.

Among the toughest hurdles remaining — and a category that is a global challenge — is reducing greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) from human activities that intensify the greenhouse effect. But that category also dropped by 24% in the port emissions survey for 2023.

Among leading sources of GHG emissions are oceangoing ships, which are tougher to regulate. The container ships also have long lives and are expensive to replace.

The global nature of those sources requires collaboration, port officials said. The port is working with its trans-Pacific partners on international initiatives to decarbonize vessels and establish green shipping corridors to reduce emissions.

Among the port’s partners are ocean carriers, government agencies, and some of the world’s busiest ports in Asia, including the ports of Shanghai and Singapore, in collaboration with the Port of Long Beach.

Efforts also continue to reduce ship emissions within the port with shoreside electrical power and other efforts to reduce emissions from ships not able to plug in.

The 2023 findings show diesel particulate matter, nitrogen oxides, and sulfur oxides from ships, trains, trucks, harbor craft, and off-road terminal equipment are down 91%, 74%, and 98%, respectively, since 2005.

The annual inventory tracks the progress of port strategies for reducing air pollution from all equipment transporting cargo through the port. DPM (diesel particulate matter), NOx (nitrogen oxides) and SOx (sulfur oxides) are key components of smog. DPM is a toxic contaminant and known carcinogen. GHGs primarily consist of carbon dioxide, which is responsible for global warming.

Regional, state, and federal air regulatory agencies vet the findings every year before the inventory’s release. Port officials said their review validated the progress, with the findings being used to shape future zero-emissions goals.

Local measures include transitioning all cargo handling equipment to zero emissions by 2030 and all drayage trucks calling at marine terminals to zero emissions by 2035. Through it’s Clean Truck Program — adopted in conjunction with the Port of Long Beach as part of both ports’ Clean Air Action Plan from 2005 — the port offers incentives to put more zero-emissions trucks in service and invest in charging and clean fueling infrastructure to speed up the turnover.

Challenges remaining: Clean technology is still developing and not widely available on the commercial market; and the newest equipment also is expensive and not widely available.

A report released in September also noted there is a need for many more charging and clean fueling stations.

The report, titled “Navigating California’s Transition to Zero-Emission Drayage Trucks,” said quickly building more charging and fueling infrastructure as well as creating a secondhand market for ZE trucks (to lower the price tag) remain challenges.

The report was commissioned by the Los Angeles Business Council Institute and was produced by USC researchers at the METRANS Transportation Consortium, supported by USC and Cal State Long Beach.

Major concerns about port-related pollution center around health impacts for community residents who live around and adjacent to the major hubs, including west Long Beach, Wilmington and San Pedro.