California-Japan trade mission showcases shared leadership on sustainable ports and decarbonization​​

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​​​California’s leadership in sustainable trade took center stage in Tokyo o​​n Sept. 29, 2025,​ during a ​California trade mission​ ​​led​ ​​by ​​California State Treasurer Fiona Ma.​ The delegation​ ​brought together more than ​50 delegates from the California legislature, port authorities and ​private industry​​ for ​high-level talks with the Port of ​​Yokohama​ on port resiliency and … Read more

U.S. ports get graded on protecting public health

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SAN FRANCISCO — Around 31 million people in the U.S. live near ports, breathing toxic diesel pollution from ships, trucks, and cargo equipment every day. This pollution increases the risk of asthma, stroke, heart disease, and cancer, and disproportionately harms residents living near ports. Today, a coalition of national and community-based organizations launched the Clean … Read more

Plugged in for a cleaner future: Seattle and Tacoma lead shore power advances

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How Washington’s busiest ports are reducing pollution and leading the way in maritime sustainability From cruise ships plugging into new shore power at the Port of Seattle to container ships plugging into electricity in the Port of Tacoma, the region’s ports are charging ahead with investments that will deliver cleaner air and healthier communities. These … Read more

Why shipping’s black carbon emissions demands urgent action

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ANCHORAGE — A new report released today lays out the case for why the International Maritime Organization (IMO) should immediately act on reducing black carbon pollution — a climate super-pollutant. On Thin Ice: Why black carbon demands urgent action, by Pacific Environment, explores how the expansion of Arctic shipping is causing an increase in the … Read more

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

Activists stage mock Amazon Career Fair at University of Washington to spotlight company’s climate and labor failures

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SEATTLE (Traditional Puget Sound Salish and Duwamish Lands) —  As Amazon continues its aggressive recruitment efforts at the University of Washington (UW), a coalition of climate and labor activists – including Stand.earth, the University of Washington Institutional Climate Action, and Troublemakers, with support from Pacific Environment’s Ship It Zero campaign – hosted a satirical “Amazon … 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

Pacific Environment celebrates introduction of Washington statewide shore power policy bill

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SEATTLE (February 5, 2025) — Today, Pacific Environment celebrated the introduction of HB 1689 by Washington State Representatives Julia Reed, Liz Berry, Lisa Parshley, Beth Doglio, Gerry Pollet and Alex Ramel. The landmark bill will direct the Department of Ecology to adopt a statewide shore power policy that will accelerate shore power installation across the … Read more

Poison in the water: The call to ban scrubber discharge

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Pacific Environment’s new report exposes the hidden costs of scrubber wastewater — from severe ecological damage to serious human health risks. With the International Maritime Organization’s Pollution Prevention and Response Subcommittee meeting in London (January 27–31, 2025), we are calling for an immediate global ban on scrubber discharge into the ocean. The report makes clear: … Read more

New York City Council introduces Zero-Emission Ports Feasibility Study Bill

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NEW YORK CITY (December 19, 2024) — The New York City Council introduced Bill LS 17648 today that calls for a feasibility study of zero-emission port operations by 2040 that includes all aspects of port transportation, maintenance, loading and unloading, ocean-going vessels, handling equipment, trucks and locomotives. The feasibility study would be delivered one year … Read more

Biden administration releases new U.S. Maritime Decarbonization Action Plan 

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WASHINGTON (December 16, 2024) — On December 11, President Biden announced a U.S. Maritime Decarbonization Action Plan that builds on the foundations presented in the administration’s U.S. National Blueprint for Transportation Decarbonization. The maritime decarbonization plan provides near- and long-term strategies for decarbonizing the maritime sector and identifies key actions that the federal government 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.