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
SAN FRANCISCO — Pacific Environment is proud to announce the promotion of Grace Healy to Head of Programs and Teresa Bui to Senior Director, Climate Campaign. Grace Healy joined Pacific Environment in 2021 and has most recently served as Acting Senior Director of the Climate Campaign. In the newly created Head of Programs role, Grace … 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
Black carbon from Arctic shipping is accelerating climate breakdown. Pacific Environment’s new report calls for urgent regulation to switch to cleaner fuels and protect the Arctic.
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
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
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
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
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
For far too long — nearly 20 years — South Coast Air Basin communities, including Los Angeles, Riverside, Orange and San Bernardino counties, have been waiting for a strong Ports Indirect Source Rule (ISR) that sets clear targets — and deadlines — for reducing polluting emissions from ports that impact their lives, health and well-being. … Read more
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
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 (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
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
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.
Read how activists join Pacific Environment at the UN International Maritime Organization’s conference.
This month, the South Coast Air Quality Management District (AQMD) Headquarters was packed with about 100 clean air advocates in attendance, who erupted in cheers as the South Coast AQMD’s governing board voted unanimously to adopt the Railyard Indirect Source Rule (ISR). A big win for clean air, the facility-based measure aims to reduce harmful … Read more
On a perfect San Francisco morning on July 12, history was made. The world’s first hydrogen-powered passenger ferry, the Sea Change, made its inaugural sail from the San Francisco Ferry Building to Pier 41 near Fisherman’s Wharf. The vessel will ferry people the 1.2 nautical miles three times a week for free: a short trip, … Read more