Welcome to Pacific Environment’s December newsletter! This month, we highlight a major grant from the U.N. Environment Programme that will propel our marine conservation into the new year, consider ways to avoid toxic chemicals in our holiday purchases and applaud our allies in East Asia for continued progress toward cleaner maritime shipping. JUMP AHEAD
Cyber Monday is the busiest online shopping day of the year in the United States. In 2024, it generated a record $13.3 billion in revenue. While consumers believe they are getting a deal, there is a hidden price to many online purchases: toxic chemicals. As shoppers head into Cyber Monday, we want to highlight the … Read more
Welcome to Pacific Environment’s October newsletter! This month, we explore how marine protected areas are safeguarding ocean biodiversity and supporting coastal communities, highlight a national report card grading U.S. ports on public health protections and share tips for a spooky — yet sustainable — Halloween. Plus, get an inside look at our staff experts in … Read more
Spooky season is finally here — and it’s my favorite time of the year. I love everything about the fall festivities: scary movies, pumpkin patches and the changing leaves. But beneath all the fun lurks a scary truth: Halloween has quickly become haunted by single-use plastics from synthetic costumes to plastic-wrapped wrapped candy bars. But … Read more
National and international government agencies protect ocean biodiversity and marine wildlife by creating marine protected areas. So what are marine protected areas? Read on as we highlight this important ocean conservation tool, how Pacific Environment partners with local communities and governments and ways you can help. What are marine protected areas and why do they … Read more
Welcome to Pacific Environment’s September newsletter! This month, we celebrate World Maritime Day by highlighting how cleaner shipping solutions are transforming ports, protecting communities and addressing climate impacts. Additionally, we spotlight emerging zero-waste tourism initiatives in Asia and provide context and expert insight on what’s next following the recent Global Plastics Treaty negotiations. Read on … Read more
Tourism is transforming many of the world’s most beautiful and culturally-significant places into dumping grounds for plastic waste — something that no resident or tourist wants to experience. Tourists generate significantly more waste per capita than local residents, and hotels and restaurants add to the problem with their heavy reliance on single-use plastics. But tourism … Read more
Two years after the last prestigious Para El Mar MPA Awards & Recognition in the Philippines took place, Pacific Environment returns to partner with the Marine Protected Area Support Network to showcase the best practices in MPA management and marine conservation in the Philippines. On Sept. 17-18, the 10th Para El Mar MPA Awards (“for … Read more
The last and possibly final round of Global Plastics Treaty talks ended last week in Geneva, Switzerland. The 10-day negotiation at the United Nations Geneva campus sought to finalize a new global treaty to end plastic pollution, but despite round-the-clock efforts and extending the meeting by one day, no treaty emerged from the process. … Read more
Welcome to Pacific Environment’s August newsletter! This month, we spotlight the urgent threat of black carbon driving rapid Arctic ice melt and the critical actions needed to stop it. We also share recent plastics wins and takeaways from the Global Plastics Treaty negotiations in Switzerland. Read on for the latest news, insights and on-the-ground updates — … Read more
Black carbon pollution is a growing threat in the Arctic, and unless international negotiators make significant changes, it will contribute to even greater climate collapse. That’s according to a new report published by Pacific Environment, On thin ice: Why black carbon demands urgent action. Last week, I had the opportunity to sit down with my … Read more
Plastic Free July is an opportunity to practice plastic reduction all month long, and to create sustainable foundations for long-term change. This July, we are proud to celebrate the results of our partner GreenHub’s efforts to tackle plastic pollution in one province in Vietnam. GreenHub wrapped up a comprehensive three-year project (ending March 2025) to … Read more
Welcome to Pacific Environment’s July newsletter — and happy Plastic Free July! This month, we’re celebrating the power of everyday choices and bold systemic change. From launching a plastic-free challenge in Vietnam to supporting game-changing clean shipping legislation in Congress, Pacific Environment is driving action for people and the planet. Read on for climate and … Read more
On July 9, at the 134th meeting of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Council, the Inuit Circumpolar Council (ICC) was granted permanent consultative status. This is a significant milestone, as ICC has become the first Indigenous organization to receive consultative status at the IMO. Why this matters While there has been a perception that Indigenous … Read more
Welcome to Pacific Environment’s June newsletter — and happy World Ocean Month! This month, we are highlighting some of our work in California to reduce climate pollution, advance environmental justice and demonstrate the state’s leadership on clean energy initiatives both domestically and internationally. JUMP AHEAD
Pacific Environment and partners organize tour to connect California policymakers with cutting-edge technologies and best practices This week, a California delegation will embark on a fact-finding tour across Europe to explore how global leaders are tackling maritime pollution, accelerating zero-emission shipping, and building climate-resilient port infrastructure. Organized by Pacific Environment and partners, the tour will … Read more
A conversation for Sustainable San Mateo County’s 3rd annual Youth for Climate Policy event The ocean connects us — not just the land and water but something deeper. It binds us through shared challenges, collective responsibility, and a common future. Even for those who live far from the shore, our daily actions flow into the … Read more
Welcome to the May 2025 edition of Pacific Environment’s monthly newsletter! Each month, we share key updates from our programs and highlight the people and partners driving change across the Pacific Rim. JUMP AHEAD
In West Long Beach, where container ships tower over neighborhoods, a child with asthma struggles to breathe, suffering from frequent nosebleeds and headaches. Her family and many others live in the shadow of the toxic air produced from two of the world’s largest ports — Los Angeles and Long Beach. While local groups fight for … Read more
Key takeaways On April 11, 2025, the International Maritime Organization made history and voted to approve the IMO Net-Zero Framework, setting legally-binding emission reduction targets and prices for non-compliance for international ships over the next 30 years and beyond. This is the first time an entire industry has set a price on carbon emissions on … Read more
