Analysis Shows Six Consecutive Years of Improved Air Quality at Port of Long Beach

The Port of Long Beach has had six straight years of air quality improvements and has cut diesel particulates by 81 percent since 2005, according to a 2012 analysis released Aug. 19. According to a press release from the port, “all of the key air pollutants from port-related sources were reduced in 2012.” Smog-forming nitrogen oxides were cut 54 percent and sulfur oxides 88 percent, while greenhouse gases were lowered by 24 percent, the port said. The analysis, or "emissions inventory," also indicated the reduction in pollutants “far outpaced a 10 percent decline in containerized cargo activity” during the same time.

The improved air quality can be attributed to the port’s “focused efforts to reduce air pollution caused by goods movement,” the port said. The efforts include “bigger ships carrying cargo more efficiently, newer ships with cleaner engines, the Jan. 1, 2012, deadline for full implementation of the Clean Trucks Program, increasing use of shore power, and a new low-sulfur fuel rule for ships that started in August 2012,” the port said.

“We’ve been aggressively pursuing cleaner air for a long time and as you can see from these numbers, we are succeeding,” said Thomas Fields, president of the Long Beach Board of Harbor Commissioners. Fields said the port is committed to “doing even more” to further improve air quality.

The complete emissions inventory is (here).