California delegation heads to Europe for Clean Shipping Tour 

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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

Youth rising: Shaping sustainable, just communities through policy

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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

A fight for clean air for Californians

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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

IMO’s history-making carbon emission levy is a step forward; Pacific Environment argues more steps are needed

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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

Merging sustainability and tradition in Vietnam: Kitchen God Day 2025

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Earlier this year, the Pacific Environment Vietnam team participated in the “Kitchen God Day” campaign which seeks to merge sustainability and traditional celebrations in Vietnam. The campaign aims to prevent plastic pollution during the Lunar New Year and educate the public about sustainable living practices during this traditional ritual. Over the years, the campaign has … Read more

Vietnam hosts regional zero waste workshop: Lessons and hope for the future

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In February, Pacific Environment hosted a weeklong zero waste workshop in Vietnam. With over 80 participants from NGOs, government and industry around Vietnam and Asia Pacific, participants shared lessons learned from the zero waste movement in different contexts, and explored opportunities and fundraising for the important work ahead.  To kick off Earth Month, I wanted … Read more

Historic milestone for offshore wind in South Korea 

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On February 27, 2025, South Korea’s National Assembly passed the Special Act on Offshore Wind, marking a significant breakthrough in the country’s clean energy transition. This legislation streamlines permitting, enhances the government’s role in site planning, and ensures grid connection and infrastructure planning. With this law in place, administrative hurdles and uncertainty for offshore wind … Read more

Environmental advocates denounce California’s failure to implement SB 54 amid plastic industry influence

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Governor Newsom misses deadline on landmark legislation, raising concerns about California’s plastic pollution commitments On Friday, California Governor Gavin Newsom had a deadline to act on SB 54, but instead stymied it and told regulators to start over. SB 54 is a landmark law that would ban foam packaging, limit the amount of single-use plastics … Read more

Pacific Environment launches clean shipping advocacy in Japan  

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Since its founding in 1987, Pacific Environment has been building power with local communities across the Pacific Rim to protect our oceans, marine life and public health. While our Climate Team has been working to advance clean shipping in Singapore, the Republic of Korea, we are now extending our efforts into Japan to expand our … Read more

Despite global mandate, no plastic treaty yet 

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Last week in Busan, Republic of Korea, world leaders met to once again try to come to agreement over a treaty to address the critical global challenge of plastic pollution. Though this was to be the fifth and final negotiation, delegates failed to prepare a treaty ready for signature. Instead, another meeting will be held … Read more

Insights from COP16: Advancing global marine conservation

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Pacific Environment’s Marine team just returned from the 16th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP16) in Cali, Colombia, where we advocated for stronger biodiversity efforts across Southeast Asia — a region we’ve been dedicated to since 2016. This event reaffirmed our commitment to safeguarding the world’s most diverse marine areas and … Read more

Climate action in Long Beach: A personal story

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Cristhian Tapia-Delgado shares his personal journey from growing up in Long Beach to becoming a passionate advocate for environmental justice and clean air in frontline communities impacted by port pollution.

Maritime shipping regulation at MEPC82

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In London, the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) 82nd Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC82) recently concluded, marking a significant gathering to discuss the regulation of maritime shipping. Here’s a comprehensive overview of the key developments from the event. What happened at MEPC82?  Youth climate advocates take the stage For the first time in the history of … Read more