Global South climate advocates stress urgency for a strong carbon levy on maritime shipping
Read how activists join Pacific Environment at the UN International Maritime Organization’s conference.
Experts detail devastating consequences of cruise ship and ocean going vessel scrubber use
Co-hosts and experts from Pacific Environment, Southeast Alaska Conservation Council and Alaska Community Action on Toxics held an hour-long webinar on scrubber pollution and what can be done to end it, followed by a Q&A session.
Amazon’s U.S. transportation pollution surges since company announced ‘Climate Pledge’ five years ago
SEATTLE (Traditional Puget Sound Salish and Duwamish Lands) — Since Amazon announced its “Climate Pledge” initiative to reduce emissions in September of 2019, the company continued to expand its U.S. shipping and deliveries pollution – and today, a joint investigation by Stand.earth Research Group (SRG), the Clean Mobility Collective (CMC), and the Ship it Zero … Read more
Ship Pollution: From Air to Ocean
A policy paper released today by Pacific Environment reveals that there is a huge body of scientific work and studies that show that Exhaust Gas Cleaning Systems (ECGS) – otherwise known as scrubbers – are detrimental to the marine environment, wildlife and people’s health. Read the paper. “Ship pollution: From air to ocean. The science … Read more
Port of Seattle becomes first U.S. port to require 100% of cruise vessels to use shore power
SEATTLE, Washington — The Port of Seattle became the first port in the nation to independently require that 100% of all cruise vessels homeported in Seattle be shore power capable and utilize shore power. The order passed by the Port of Seattle Commission yesterday takes effect in the 2027 cruise season, three years before the … Read more
California can lead the world to reduce emissions from ocean cargo ships, lower climate impacts, and improve air quality around ports
Two reports co-released today by Goldman School of Public Policy, University of California Berkeley and Energy & Environmental Research Associates delve into policy changes and technology to decarbonize ocean going vessels. Non-profit Pacific Environment commissioned these reports. This set of reports seeks to inform stakeholders and policymakers on potential to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) and … Read more
Pacific Environment’s Monthly Newsletter
Welcome to the May 2024 edition of Pacific Environment’s new monthly e-newsletter! This is an opportunity to highlight some of our work and share our victories for communities, climate, and wildlife. Ports for People In Los Angeles, a demand for clean air and healthy portside neighborhoods Pacific Environment, in tandem with members of T.H.E. Impact … Read more
California can lead the world to reduce emissions from ocean cargo ships, lower climate impacts, and improve air quality around ports
BERKELEY, Calif. (May 21, 2024) — Two reports co-released today by Goldman School of Public Policy, University of California Berkeley and Energy & Environmental Research Associates delve into policy changes and technology to decarbonize ocean going vessels. Non-profit Pacific Environment commissioned these reports. This set of reports seeks to inform stakeholders and policymakers on potential … Read more
Biden Administration Sets National Goal of Zero-Emissions Freight Sector Including Maritime
On April 24, the Biden administration announced its first-ever national goal to transition the U.S. to a zero-emissions freight sector (i.e., truck, rail, aviation, and maritime), as well as a commitment to develop a national zero-emissions freight strategy. The whole-of-government strategy includes new federal funding, continued engagement with stakeholders on zero-emissions freight infrastructure and forthcoming … Read more
Pacific Environment and Ulsan Port Authority Sign MOU to Accelerate Zero-Emission Shipping and Ports Between US and Republic of Korea
SINGAPORE (April 16, 2024) – During Singapore Maritime Week 2024, Pacific Environment and the Ulsan Port Authority signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) outlining a vision of multi-year collaboration to accelerate zero-emission shipping and ports in the Republic of Korea, within Asia, across transpacific and global corridors. The MOU Signing Ceremony occurred during a joint … Read more
MEPC81: Support For Pricing Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Shipping Grows But Important Pieces Of Puzzle Still Missing
London, 22 March, 2024 — As this week’s meeting of the International Maritime Organization’s Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC 81, March 18-22) winds down, the Clean Shipping Coalition welcomed the growing support for a greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions levy, but warned that IMO member states must also maintain focus on other key issues such as … Read more
EPA: Approve life-saving protections and safeguard California’s health and air quality!
In a victory for people and climate, the California Air Resources Board amended the Commercial Harbor Craft Rule in 2022, setting the first zero-emissions mandate for ferries in the U.S and requiring cleaner engine upgrades for tugboats and other regulated vessels. However, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has yet to approve these lifesaving amendments. … Read more
Mayor Hernandez-Thorpe signs first-ever pledge towards a fossil-free Antioch
Mayor Lamar Hernandez-Thorpe made a world-leading commitment to reject public investments in new, renewed, fossil fuel infrastructure in Antioch and steer the city toward timely climate mitigation and resilience. “I’ve promised to address climate change head on,” said Mayor Lamar Hernadez-Thorpe. “We’ve ended oil and gas drilling in Antioch and, today, following a historic atmospheric river caused by … Read more
With an Executive Order President Biden can take meaningful action to eliminate shipping emissions and advance environmental justice
WASHINGTON, DC [September 28, 2023] — In a letter sent to President Biden on World Maritime Day, 45 organizations called for an Executive Order to decarbonize maritime shipping. The Biden administration has already made significant commitments to eliminate emissions from the shipping industry, as well as to accelerate the development of zero-emission fuels and technologies … Read more
Pacific Environment Applauds Gov. Newsom’s Action on Fossil Fuels
NEW YORK (September 20, 2023) — Today, in front of the United National Climate Ambition Summit hosted by UN Secretary-General, Governor Gavin Newsom highlighted California’s climate action and called out the oil and gas industry for their “continued lies.” Today’s remarks echo the message sent by the State of California’s lawsuit filed on September 16, … Read more
UN agrees on a new climate plan for global shipping, but not 1.5°C aligned
Civil society groups are deeply concerned by the UN’s International Maritime Organization (IMO) failure to firmly align global shipping with the Paris Agreement’s 1.5°C temperature-warming limit, at the 80th Marine Environment Protection Committee meeting (MEPC 80) this week. The IMO’s 175 member states failed to agree on absolute emission reduction targets for 2030 and 2040, … Read more
Last chance to prevent shipping breach of Paris Agreement’s 1.5°C temperature limit
Civil society groups are deeply concerned about developments at the UN’s International Maritime Organization (IMO) climate negotiations this week (ISWG-GHG-15), in particular regarding the 2030 and 2040 climate targets that are necessary to put global shipping on a 1.5°C-aligned transition and ensure an equitable transition. The IMO’s 175 member states must urgently listen to climate … Read more
Fuel Production Stakeholders Call for Ambitious Shipping Decarbonisation Policies
A group of fuel production stakeholders, including H2Carrier and MAN Energy Solutions, today joined Environmental Defense Fund in support for the full decarbonisation of the shipping industry by 2050. The companies call on International Maritime Organization (IMO) Member States to develop policies that incentivize the production and adoption of sustainable fuels, and to adopt ambitious interim targets … Read more
UN climate deal for shipping will fail without ambitious 2030 goal
The International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) agreement on shipping climate targets expected next month could be the starting gun for the radical climate action our planet desperately needs. Civil society groups are calling on the IMO member states to urgently support halving climate pollution from ships by 2030 and reaching zero-emission by 2040, at the Intersessional Working Group on Greenhouse … Read more
Our Top 7 of 2022
We had a great year with many important wins. But none of this would have been possible without our supporters. This support helps Pacific Environment collaborate with brave grassroots leaders to fight climate change, defend the oceans, protect wildlife, build just societies and move beyond fossil fuels toward a green economy. Our teams coordinate ambitious … Read more