Community Leaders and Policymakers Unite for ‘For Our Lives’ Rally and Press Conference in Los Angeles, Calling for End to Fossil-Fueled Ship Pollution

Community leaders held a rally and press conference in front of the Port of Los Angeles Administration Building in San Pedro to urge Governor Newsom, the California Air Resources Board (CARB), the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and Mayor Bass to clean up ocean shipping at the port — including implementing the delayed at-berth rule and eliminating climate-warming, life-shortening pollution from fossil-fueled ocean-going vessels (OGVs) from idling their engines at the ports. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 9 Administrator Martha Guzman attended the event.

Dawny’all Heydari, Climate Campaign Manager of Advocacy, Pacific Environment; Jan Victor Andasan, Community Organizer, East Yard Communities for Environmental Justice; Regina Hsu, Senior Associate Attorney, Earthjustice; Eli Lipmen, Executive Director, MoveLA; Nico Gardner, Sunrise Movement Los Angeles; James Allen, publisher of Random Lengths News and San Pedro Resident; and, Yassi Kavezade, Senior Campaign Representative, My Generation, Sierra Club spoke about the negative impacts of ocean shipping. Advocates held signs that read, “Gov. Newsom: stand up to Big Shipping!” and “Dirty Ship. Dirty Lungs. California, #RuleOutPollution, Zero-emission ships by 2040!”  This event was co-hosted by East Yard Communities for Environmental Justice, MoveLA and Pacific Environment. About 40 advocates were in attendance.

“The Port of Los Angeles has ignored the serious public health and environmental consequences of its fossil-fueled operations for too long. As fossil-fueled ships idled outside of the San Pedro Bay ports during the pandemic, nearby port communities felt the brunt of increased pollution and adverse effects to their health. We are far behind on our climate goals but there is still hope to flatten the curve on climate change. California must immediately lead the way on requiring ships to plug-in when parked and 100% zero-emission ships in our waters by 2040,” said Dawny’all Heydari, Climate Campaign Manager of Advocacy, Pacific Environment.

“The scourge of pollution on the health of local communities must come to an end. Move LA is committed to Ports for People because we believe that we can create good jobs and clean up the environmental impact of port pollution by passing an aggressive ocean going vessel rule,” said Marisa Garcia, Activism Director, Move LA.

Per CARB’s commitments from 16 years ago and an update in 2020, CARB’s at-berth rule would have required container, reefer, and cruise vessels to plug into electric shore-power when parked at California ports starting at the beginning of 2023. If implemented, it would have saved 237 lives, yield $2.31 billion in public health benefits, and reduce NOx emissions by 17,500 tons and carbon dioxide equivalent emissions by 356,000 metric tons by 2032. CARB’s at-berth rule was slated to go into effect at the beginning of 2023, but has been delayed due to the threat of a Big Shipping industry lawsuit and delay at the federal EPA.

“Communities living near the Port of LA and Long Beach cannot afford delays on the at- berth rule for ships to plug in onshore. Ships can plug in for clean air now. The whole region is affected by dirty emissions from ships 24/7, the Air Resources Board can do better by enforcing the rule sooner rather than later. The Sierra Club supports communities holding the shipping industry and ports to a new standard for cleaner air, because we believe everyone has the right to breathe clean air. Plugging in ships At-Berth and requiring zero emissions harbor craft by 2045 will provide clean air and new jobs to our region,” said Yassi Kavezade, Senior Campaign Representative, My Generation..

Dirty ships equals dirty lungs and we are calling on California leaders — Governor Newsom, the California Air Resources Board, the EPA —  to immediately implement the at-berth rule and commit to new regulation to end fossil-fueled ship pollution in California waters by 2040. Governor Newsom and CARB have moved to electrify rail and big rigs trucks, now it’s time to stop the harms to communities and workers from fossil-fueled shipping in California.

“While CARB passed the long awaited railyard rule and the Advanced Clean Fleet Rule, a historic moment for Zero emissions; they need to continue to push to prevent and mitigate emissions that frontline fenceline communities are overburdened with. They need to pass this at berth rule now and no longer delay it because every second, every minute, every day that passes, communities bear the burden of emissions coming from these ships. We need to regulate these massive ships so that they plug into shore power when they enter our region because these are huge sites of contaminants harming residents in the entire region adjacent to the port complex and beyond. Climate change starts in our hoods,” said Jan Victor Andasan, Community Organizer, East Yard Communities for Environmental Justice.

“The technology to capture at dock emissions from cargo ships has been available for nearly a decade. Cold Ironing is just one method to do this but the other method of smoke stake capture has been held up by political gaming and insider deal making at both ports that has not accomplished the goal towards zero emissions. The time to act is now, not later!” said James Allen, publisher of Random Lengths News and San Pedro Resident.

“While Big Shipping companies make record profits, working-class communities are paying the price. For too long, emissions from ships at the Port have poisoned the air and water of Port workers and the community. A livable future for the Harbor is one where good-paying union jobs are protected and created, where chronic health conditions and reduced life expectancy caused by shipping emissions are a thing of the past, and where our communities come first,” said Nico Gardner, Sunrise Movement Los Angeles.

“Ships are the largest source of harmful air pollution at the San Pedro Bay Ports, and we need our leaders to act decisively against this growing threat to our health. Communities living next to the ports fought for years for the at-berth rule because it will bring important emission reductions and save lives. Our agencies should listen to the community members who are forced to breathe filthy air every day and not yield to an industry that continues to prioritize its own profits over public health. To deliver clean air to portside communities, CARB must move forward with full implementation of the at-berth rule and adopt a zero-emissions ship standard,” said Regina Hsu, Senior Associate Attorney, Earthjustice.

Dirty ships equals dirty lungs and we are calling on California leaders — Governor Newsom, the California Air Resources Board, the EPA —  to immediately implement the at-berth rule and commit to new regulation to end fossil-fueled ship pollution in California waters by 2040. Governor Newsom and CARB have moved to electrify rail and big rigs trucks, now it’s time to stop the harms to communities and workers from fossil-fueled shipping in California.