U.S. - Singapore Create Green Shipping Corridor to Reduce Carbon Emission

As part of the Green Shipping Challenge (GSC), Singapore and Southern California ports have initiated discussions about a trans-pacific green corridor focusing on low and zero emissions shipping as well as digital shipping.

The Green Shipping Challenge was organized by the United States and Norway and was announced at the 27th United Nation Climate Change Conference (COP27) in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt earlier this month. This challenge encourages countries, ports, and companies to do their part and announce how they will aid the shipping sector on the pathway to limit global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees C by the end of this decade.

The ports of Los Angeles, Long Beach, and the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA), have partnered to make this corridor possible. Their goal is to catalyze the use and development of low and zero carbon emissions as well as use digital tools to increase efficiency to support the deployment of low and zero carbon ships according to a statement released on Green Shipping Challenge’s website.

Also, in partnership with this corridor is the C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group, a global network of mayors committed to taking urgent action against the world’s climate crisis. “Accelerating efforts to decarbonize the shipping sector is urgent if we are to limit global heating to 1.5 degrees Celsius,” said C40 Executive Director Mark Watts. “This initiative has the potential to serve a range of carriers and routes by reimagining infrastructure designs and operational best practices.”

Currently, the ocean shipping industry is accountable for 3% of global greenhouse gas emissions. “Decarbonizing the supply chain is the future of our industry, and partnerships like this on the world’s most important trade route are important for fulfilling that ultimate goal,” said Port of Long Beach Executive Director Mario Cordero. This corridor follows the footsteps of several other green corridors announced throughout the year from others in the maritime shipping industry, taking a step closer to the fight against global climate change.