In an effort to update the San Pedro Bay Ports Clean Air Action Plan (CAAP), the governing boards of the Port of Los Angeles and the Port of Long Beach have scheduled a joint public meeting to discuss proposals for the changes.

Developed over the past year, the CAAP Discussion Document outlines the ports’ plans for expanding the strategies that have succeeded in reducing air pollution from port-related sources over the last decade.

Highlights of the Discussion Document include the implementation of a path toward zero emissions, the next iteration of the Clean Truck Program, and innovative strategies to encourage the deployment of cleaner ships.

“The CAAP represents our commitment to reducing air quality impacts from port operations,” Duane Kenagy, Port of Long Beach Interim Chief Executive, said, adding that “with this update, we are identifying the path forward to meet our clean air goals and curtail impacts on local communities.”

Building on the original plan and a 2010 update, the new iteration of the CAAP will contain a comprehensive set of near-term and long-term strategies to help the region achieve its clean air goals, support the statewide vision for more sustainable freight, and set a new goal to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions through 2050.

According to the latest annual inventories released earlier this year, the two ports’ clean air programs have reduced diesel particulate matter (DPM) up to 85 percent, cut nitrogen oxides (NOx) in half, eliminated 97 percent of sulfur oxides (SOx), and shrunk GHG an average of 12 percent.

The results also show the ports continue to exceed their 2023 targets for reducing DPM and SOx, 77 percent and 93 percent, respectively, and are closing in on their 2023 target of reducing NOx emissions 59 percent.