Joined-up environmental thinking

POLA’s recent environmental summit was open to the public which port officials said was vital to demonstrating the port’s continued commitment to growing even more greener.

Gene Seroka, executive director, POLA, said at the opening of the summit: “Going green is not only the right approach, but the necessary approach.”

He pointed out that POLA will be working even more closely with the Port of Long Beach (POLB) going forward. Both have been affected by the longshore labour agreement dispute so recognise the need to work more collaboratively in future.

“We will continue to work together in everything except price and terms. This includes infrastructure, safety, security and environmental causes, just as we have done since the Clean Air Action Plan was introduced 10 years ago,” Mr Seroka added.

He said that there will be an announcement made this month on the next step the two ports will be taking in terms of the Clean Air Action Plan, which he said will “raise the bar in terms of environmental strategy.”

The summit also discussed the proposal to tighten the US EPA NOx Emissions/Ozone reduction 2023 standard, zero and near zero emissions technologies, the port’s Energy Management Action Plan (EMAP) and maintaining priority pollutant reduction levels while achieving continued cargo growth.

This summit is expected to be the first in a series of meetings with stakeholders to help the port formulate and plan its environmental strategy going forward.

POLA is known for its environmental stewardship which has previously focused on cutting pollution from ships, trucks, trains, cargo equipment and harbour craft.