August 2026 newsletter

Welcome to the August edition of Pacific Current! This month, we bring you updates from across the U.S. and the world, with the latest on the federal government’s attack on California clean air rules, positive news from our Ports for People campaign in New York and New Jersey and new blogs on our efforts in the Arctic and Asia.

Beyond ambition: What Japan and California can teach the world about port decarbonization

This summer, Pacific Environment hosted a webinar, “Advancing port decarbonization: A new analysis of Japan’s Carbon Neutral Port (CNP) initiatives,” to explore exciting advancements in Japan’s ports as well as sharing insights from port leaders across the Pacific. A critical question remained: How can ambitious climate commitments be translated into practical action?

In our blog, Pacific Environment’s Japan Climate Specialist Katsunori Hirano aims to answer this question and provide key takeaways on the future of collaborative decarbonization efforts.

Congress attacks California’s authority over clean air at the ports

Just a few weeks ago, the Trump administration attacked two California maritime clean air waivers by sending them for congressional review. Last week, Congress continued the fight and introduced resolutions that would strip California of its power to address pollution at our ports. These waivers — the Ocean-Going Vessels At Berth and Commercial Harbor Craft waivers — give California the necessary tools to achieve clean, zero-emission shipping so millions of people living near ports can breathe easier and also ensure California maintains the strongest clean air regulations in the country.

Pacific Environment joins a coalition of California environmental nonprofits calling out the administration’s attempt to evade the law and deny Californians our right to clean air and a healthy future.

US prepares to open up Alaska waters to deep-sea mining

In July, the U.S. launched the first of three controversial 2026 deep-seabed mining lease sales in the waters of American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands and Alaska. Deep-seabed mining often damages fragile ecosystems, increases harmful noise pollution and threatens food sources relied upon by many Indigenous Arctic communities. At Pacific Environment, we are deeply concerned about these permits the federal government is considering selling. Learn more about the risks of deep-seabed mining in Alaska and the pushback to this potentially dangerous project.

In the news

Explore some of our latest media highlights and expert commentary featured in leading outlets.

• EPA moves to reclassify Clean Air Act waivers (Nation of Change)
• Building a green lifestyle for students. (Da Nang Newspaper and Radio & Television)
• Commentary: Alaska’s vital waters are already under stress; they don’t need deep-sea mining (Common Dreams)

Support a reusable future for Los Angeles

The upcoming 2028 LA Olympic and Paralympic Games are a great opportunity to showcase reuse at scale. Support Reusable LA’s petition and tell Los Angeles leaders to pass a new local law requiring reuse for onsite dining at local restaurants and food establishments and reuse at stadiums and venues in time for the games. Choosing reuse shouldn’t be difficult — it should be the norm. ICYMI: Check out our letter to the editor in the LA Times about single-use plastic, The Ocean Cleanup and what’s at stake for the 2028 games.

Make a gift to support healthy oceans

Pacific Environment works across the Pacific Rim and the world to ensure ocean conservation, with programs in some of the most biodiverse countries on the planet such as Vietnam and Malaysia. When you make a gift, you support healthy oceans for years to come.

Join Pacific Environment at WATTS UP APAC 2026

Pacific Environment is proud to partner with Maritime Battery Forum on WATTS UP APAC 2026: Electrifying Asia-Pacific, a maritime battery-dedicated conference for all who are interested in marine electrification and maritime battery technology development. Held in Singapore on Sept. 23-25, Pacific Environment will be leading a session featuring industry and policy experts from the Republic of Korea, China, Singapore and the U.S. to share policy approaches and implementation cases that support the electrification of vessels and the deployment of maritime battery technologies. Other highlights of the conference include expert-led courses on maritime batteries, keynote speeches by leading technologists, networking opportunities and a battery-powered vessel visit.