The Port of Long Beach must stop fossil fuel expansion and invest in a livable just climate future during the most decisive decade on climate action.
The Port of Long Beach is considering plans to allow development of a new fossil fuel facility for ships powered by methane-emitting liquefied natural gas (LNG). If permitted, this facility would lock in dangerous emissions and pollutants for at least 30 years (the lifespan of a cargo ship) and would impact our community’s air, land, and water quality for even longer. Investing in new fossil fuel infrastructure today impairs Long Beach’s transition to clean and sustainable energy.
LNG is not a clean fuel. The global shipping industry is increasingly turning to LNG as a “bridge fuel” to synthetic methane-based fuels, but all of these fuels emit climate-warming emissions. The Port of Long Beach must stop fossil fuel expansion and invest in a livable, just climate future during our most decisive decade on climate action.
The impacts of shipping pollution don’t stay at sea. As cargo ships pull into ports to offload their goods, they pollute the air for communities living near major harbors and ports, often low-income communities and communities of color. This is why we need bold leadership to accelerate the transition to clean ships, green trade routes, and choose zero-emission shipping.
Read our fact sheet here.
Press & Opinion Pieces:
Lloyd’s List, LNG ship generator engines leak more methane than main engines, study finds
The Guardian, Methane much more sensitive to global heating than previously thought – study
CleanTechnica, Methane At Sea: Finding The Invisible Climate Killer, So-Called “Green” (LNG) Ships
Common Dreams, ‘This Is Terrifying’: Explosion at Texas Gas Plant Spotlights Threat of LNG Industry
Hellenic Shipping News, Rapid expansion of US LNG comes with climate costs: environmental group
Bloomberg, Methane Leaks Make LNG-Powered Ships Dirtier Than Other Vessels