Southern California’s air quality regulators are stepping back from their prior commitment to establish long-overdue regulations aimed at curbing harmful pollution from the Los Angeles and Long Beach ports by the year’s end. This inaction marks another failure by the South Coast Air Quality Management District, bowing to pressure from unions and influential business groups who’ve allied to derail the proposed measures designed to mitigate the region’s highest source of smog.
The opposition has undeniably prevailed. The agency, alongside its 13-member board, has retreated from its promise, contradicting the assurances made by board chair Vanessa Delgado in May to set a rule in place by year’s end.
Now, the district is considering a significantly weaker alternative—mandating ports to prepare for zero-emission infrastructure. However, this approach lacks any concrete emission reduction measures and won’t see further deliberation until next year.
This inability to act showcases a poor response to the pressing health challenges originating from port pollution. The sheer volume of diesel trucks, ships, trains, and cargo equipment adds to the region’s smog problem and elevates cancer risks for nearby communities. Without significant pollution reductions at these ports, Southern California cannot hope to achieve federal health standards. Currently, failing to meet these benchmarks results in roughly 1,500 early deaths annually and numerous urgent asthma-related hospital visits, as detailed by the air district.
Facing strong adversaries such as the Pacific Merchant Shipping Association and the International Longshore and Warehouse Union, air quality officials have had their hands full. These groups, along with industry-aligned lobbyists, have orchestrated public meeting protests expressing alarm about potential “crippling” effects on California’s supply chain and economy.
According to Nahal Mogharabi, spokesperson for the Air Quality Management District, feedback ranged widely, with notable opposition against regulating the ports.
While it’s true that some opponents raise legitimate concerns about potential job impacts—set to be explored during rulemaking—the motivation to delay or obstruct by other parties is often profit-driven. Terminal operators and stakeholders reliant on cargo transport argue, albeit misleadingly, that these anti-pollution measures hinder economic activity. They suggest emission cuts are impossible without throttling cargo throughput or redirecting shipments to less eco-friendly ports, ignoring ample evidence otherwise.
We’re not convinced by these claims. California has for years leveraged robust air quality mandates to catalyze technological advancements across sectors, cleaning the air while boosting economic growth. The ports’ data supports this, showing emissions have decreased over time despite rising cargo volumes.
L.A. Mayor Karen Bass and Long Beach Mayor Rex Richardson share some responsibility. Although they supported a zero-emission infrastructure proposal, neither definitively endorsed rules that directly slash port pollution—a stance that’s telling. The city-owned ports, under their purview, have historically resisted local air quality regulations, even minimally invasive ones aligned with their own clean-air commitments.
Bass spokesperson Gabby Maarse stated the mayor’s dedication to advancing public health near the port, emphasizing the importance of prioritizing Angelenos’ welfare. Richardson, too, maintained that his commitment to cutting port emissions remains firm.
What’s most troubling is the ongoing and blatant inaction by the Air Quality Management District board, comprising local officials from Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, and San Bernardino counties. Their chief responsibility is to clean the air for the public’s benefit.
If these board members lack the resolve to confront labor and business groups now, what hope do we have for them to stand firm amid the intensifying challenges ahead, especially with possible federal opposition under a new administration that’s likely to challenge the state’s air-cleaning authority? Local leaders need to take bolder action.
Next time you gaze at the brown haze that shrouds L.A.’s skyline, remember that Southern California could enjoy cleaner skies, reduced cancer rates, fewer asthma cases, and longer life expectancy. These are improvements already seen in other regions, denied here due to a lack of courageous action from those with the power to bring about change.
