CA Air Resources Board: Safeguard public health & our environment, implement the At Berth Regulation!

California Air Resources Board

Digital banner reading, "Rule out pollution: California's At-Berth Regulation"
Pacific Environment

California's air regulator, the California Air Resources Board (CARB), currently regulates certain ships such as container and cruise ships to plug into shore power to reduce the air pollution emitted from these ships while docked and idling at port. This regulation is known as the Ocean-Going Vessels (OGV) at Berth regulation. This pollution reduction will offer critical protection for port communities, resulting in a 55% reduction in potential cancer risk for communities near the Ports of Los Angeles, Long Beach, and Richmond.

However, ships in transit are the largest portion of toxic emissions and have not been addressed. CARB staff are now seeking direction from their Board in May to further reduce emissions from these marine vessels, which will further protect human health and the environment.

We need your help! Sign the petition below urging CARB to fully implement the At Berth Regulation without delay.

Sponsored by
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San Francisco, CA

To: California Air Resources Board
From: [Your Name]

Ships are one of the worst polluters in the state, surpassing heavy duty trucks in their NOx emissions. Ship pollution contributes to an estimated 3,700 premature deaths each year in California, and port-adjacent communities, such as San Pedro, Wilmington, and West Long Beach experience up to 8 years lower life expectancy than the Los Angeles County average and the highest risk of cancer regionally.

Given the climate emergency and air pollution that we are facing, CARB must:

1. Fully implement of the At Berth Regulation, without delay as this will help save 237 Californian lives.

2. Adopt a zero-emission shipping standard for OGVs by 2040. While the At Berth Regulation will deliver important health and environmental benefits from OGVs at berth, in-transit pollution is the largest portion of emissions from OGV and are not addressed in the rule. CARB must adopt a zero-emission in-transit shipping standard for all vessels calling on ports in California, requiring ships to reach 100% GHG emission reductions by 2040 to help reduce pollution at the ports, save more lives and create jobs.

3. Act now to set interim measures to immediately reduce toxic pollution and protect port communities. Port communities cannot afford to wait until 2040 to get air pollution relief. We urge CARB to take immediate action to regulate ships by immediately phasing out the dirtiest ships and require ships visiting a California port to run on Tier III engines by 2028.

Just like cars and trucks, we urge CARB to regulate ships. This is critical for protecting the health of my family, community and myself.