Port of Long Beach Emissions Hit Record Low Per Container in Busiest Year: Diesel Particulates Down 7% in 2025 Inventory
LONG BEACH, Los Angeles County, California — The Port of Long Beach on November 11 released its 2025 emissions inventory, finding that emissions per container fell to an all-time low in the busiest year in the port's recorded history, with across-the-board reductions in port-related air pollution compared with the prior year.
Single-year reductions include diesel particulate matter down 7%, nitrogen oxides down 9%, sulfur oxides down 9% and greenhouse gases down 6%. The port credited strategic investments in zero-emissions equipment, greater use of shore power and more frequent visits by cleaner ships.
Since the 2017 update of the Clean Air Action Plan, adopted with the neighboring Port of Los Angeles, diesel particulates have decreased 13%, nitrogen oxides 34% and sulfur oxides 29%, while container throughput rose 31% and greenhouse gases increased 9% over the period.
"These findings confirm one of our foundational principles — that it's possible to serve as a vibrant and strong jobs engine for the nation while protecting the environment," said Long Beach Harbor Commission President Steven Neal. Port CEO Dr. Noel Hacegaba said the port is focused on building the Port of the Future, a safe, resilient and zero-emissions port, and that the latest inventory shows it is on the right track.
Last year was the port's busiest on record, with terminals handling nearly 9.9 million twenty-foot equivalent units, and it was also the 20th anniversary of the port's Green Port Policy. This year marks the 20th anniversary of the Clean Air Action Plan: since 2005, diesel soot has decreased 91%, nitrogen oxides 70%, sulfur oxides 98% and greenhouse gases 9%, while container throughput increased 47%.
Other highlights of the 2025 inventory: trucks of model year 2014 or newer reached a record 95% of the drayage fleet, with 2% zero-emissions models; use of shore power and emissions-control barges for ships at berth increased 11%; 21% of vessel calls had Tier III engines, the cleanest available; and 21% of cargo-handling equipment was zero-emissions.
In the coming year the port will launch a truck utilization incentive program, an enhanced zero-emissions truck voucher program, an updated Green Ship Incentive Program and continued work on a zero-emissions infrastructure plan. The annual inventory is reviewed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the California Air Resources Board and the South Coast Air Quality Management District.
(Source: Port of Long Beach)
Source: Port of Long Beach
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：洛杉矶港（左）与 Long Beach 港（右）航拍全景。照片：Hyfen 摄，CC BY-SA 3.0，经 Wikimedia Commons。 / Photo: Aerial view of the Ports of Los Angeles (left) and Long Beach (right). Photo by Hyfen, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
