More than 25 climate activists staged a “die-in” on the steps of City Hall Friday, calling on Los Angeles officials to support new clean port and rail rules.
Members of the Trade, Health and Environment Impact Project and eight environmental-focused organizations urged Mayor Karen Bass and other elected officials to back the Air Quality Management District’s upcoming Port and Rail Indirect Source Rules to clean fossil-fueled ship, rail and port emissions that they say have adversely affected port residents in Los Angeles and Long Beach.
Fossil fueled diesel-powered semi-trailers and trains, which load at the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach with goods brought in by “dirty” ships, have resulted in hotter temperatures, increased rates of respiratory diseases and reduced life expectancy by up to eight years in Los Angeles County port-adjacent communities, according to the activists.
T.H.E. Impact Project was joined by allies Pacific Environment, East Yard Communities for Environmental Justice, Natural Resources Defense Council, Center for Community Action and Environmental Justice, Sierra Club, West Long Beach Neighborhood Association, MoveLA and Coalition for Clean Air in the action, urging Bass to keep her campaign promises to address what they dubbed a climate emergency.
Additionally, they called on Bass to transition away from fossil and carbon fuels to green energy, such as solar, wind, and other renewable sources, to achieve 100% zero-emissions for all port operations by 2030.
“Southern California’s air quality challenges are enormous; not only do we have the smoggiest air in the nation, but our air violates national clean air standards. In other words, our air is so dirty, it’s illegal,” Chris Chavez, Long Beach resident and deputy policy director at Coalition for Clean Air, said in a statement.
He added, “And the sad truth is that our most vulnerable communities; including my own – bear the brunt of the burden. We don’t have to choose between a healthy economy and healthy communities; and in fact, continued inaction threatens both due to increasingly likely federal intervention.”
Representatives from the Port of Los Angeles did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The ports of L.A. and Long Beach have set goals for reducing carbon emissions and upgrading infrastructure. Both ports have plans to meet certain climate goals by 2030.
The ports have also established what are known as “green corridors” with ports in other countries to share best practices and improve shipping routes to reduce carbon emissions, among other efforts.
In March, federal officials visited the Port of L.A. to highlight a $3 billion Clean Ports program, which is expected to boost the local economy and help reduce emissions to combat climate change, as well as improve air quality around the city’s most vulnerable communities.
Cristhian Tapia-Delgado, climate campaigner for Southern California at Pacific Environment, who attended Friday’s rally and “die-in,” said the event had a great turn out. Tapia-Delgado said he felt the groups got their message across and heard by the right people.
He said a representative from Bass’ office attended the rally and listened to what they had to say, as well as representatives from county Supervisor Holly Mitchell’s office, and a board member of AQMD.
Tapia-Delgado agreed that the ports have “definitely been taking advantage of opportunities” to invest in green infrastructure and energy, but more can be done.
“We also really need the ports of L.A. and Long Beach to openly support the ports and rail rules because these rules are going to help us attain federal Clean Air Act standards,” Tapia-Delgado said. “It would give our communities much needed relief from pollution.”