A group of 31 environmental and community organizations and 13 industry organizations sent letters to Democratic leadership in Congress calling on them to support the Clean Shipping Act of 2022.
Introduced by Representatives Alan Lowenthal and Nanette Barragán in July, the bill aims to clean up the shipping industry, protect the health of port communities, address environmental injustice, and provide solutions to the climate crisis.
Specifically, passage of the bill would direct the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to promulgate regulations to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from marine vessels that call on ports in the United States – reaching 100% GHG emission reductions by 2040 – and to require zero in-port emissions from marine vessels by 2030.
Environmental and community leaders wrote:
Now is the time for the U.S. to be more ambitious than ever on climate action. In addition to achieving life-saving emissions reductions, this bill will help spur the development of the zero-emission vessel market and accelerate zero-emission research and demonstration across the maritime supply chain
They also added that zero-emission fuels and vessels need to be deployed at scale over the next decade to achieve full decarbonization of the shipping sector. “If enacted, the Clean Shipping Act of 2022 would help prompt this shift in decarbonization strategies, enabling the deployment of advanced zero-emission technologies and minimizing the risk for manufacturers and suppliers.”
We have a critical opportunity to take a stand against a major source of harmful emissions, and to protect the health and well-being of frontline communities all over our nation. We can lead the world to a clean energy future, and build a green economy. I thank all those who made their voices heard in support of this vital legislation
Congressman Alan Lowenthal noted.
In the same wavelength, Antonio Santos, Federal Climate Policy Director, Pacific Environment, stated that “as world leaders come together at COP27 in Egypt to discuss solutions to the climate crisis, we are reminded that the maritime sector must do its part to help the planet avoid the worst impacts of global warming. We urge Congress to pass this bill to address the climate emergency and protect our oceans and public health.”
We must reduce emissions now in order to be on track to meet our climate goals. This bill will not only lessen shipping emissions, but it will also reduce air and ocean pollution that has disproportionately impacted frontline communities near ports and along coasts. Congress should act swiftly to pass this legislation
Rachael DeWitt, Manager of Government Relations at Ocean Conservancy, concluded.
