Ports Playbook for Zero-Emission Shipping

The Ports Playbook for Zero-Emission Shipping focuses on three main tracks: commitments, policy, and progress. These tracks lay out nine actions that will end port pollution, accelerate the market for zero-emissions technologies, reward first movers and ensure reliable access to zero-emissions infrastructure and fuels. The 9-point playbook calls on ports to take the following actions: … Read more

Ship It Zero Resolution Passes Long Beach City Council 

LONG BEACH – Yesterday evening, the Long Beach City Council unanimously passed a Ship It Zero Resolution 6-0. Long Beach City Councilmember Cindy Allen introduced the resolution on Earth Day, calling on Long Beach’s top maritime importers to commit to making all port calls to the San Pedro Port Complex, which includes the Port of … Read more

State Department Announces Green Corridor Ocean Shipping Initiative

The State Department announced the United States’ vision and commitment to green shipping corridors yesterday. The department said, “The United States envisions green shipping corridors as maritime routes that showcase low- and zero-emission lifecycle fuels and technologies with the ambition to achieve zero greenhouse gas emissions across all aspects of the corridor in support of … Read more

UN Shipping Body IMO Fails On Black Carbon, Lives Up To Reputation For Climate Inaction 

A week that opened with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres lambasting governments and industry for their climate inaction, and the IPCC’s Climate Mitigation report criticising the poor climate governance of international shipping, is set to close with the UN’s shipping agency, the IMO, again kicking climate concerns into the long grass, by failing to reduce the … Read more

As port partnership launches for green shipping corridors in Europe, advocates call for Pacific Ports Green Corridors Initiative

The Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller Center for Zero Carbon Shipping has joined with the port authorities of Hamburg, Gdynia, Roenne, Rotterdam, and Tallinn, to create a European Green Corridors Network to advance the Clydebank Declaration for Clean Shipping Corridors announced last November at COP26. According to Splash247, the project backers “…will demonstrate the early commercialisation of … Read more

Communities, Advocates, Members of Congress Celebrate Strong Commercial Harbor Craft Regulation, First Zero-Emissions Mandate for Ferries in the U.S.

Today, members of Congress, conservation, environmental justice, community, and public health advocates celebrate the unanimous adoption by the California Air Resources Board, led by Chair Liane Randolph, of the nation’s strongest commercial harbor craft public health regulation and the first zero-emissions mandate for ferries.  “Communities neighboring the San Pedro Bay Port Complex are disproportionately affected … Read more

Walmart’s Dirty Shipping Problem

On Thursday, March 31, the Society of Environmental Journalists (SEJ) is offering a tour to the Houston Ship Channel, Tour 7, “From the Fenceline to the Frontline: The Battle Against Environmental Racism in Houston’s Ship Channel.” According to the agenda, attendees will tour the Houston Ship Channel, a highly industrialized area of refineries and chemical … Read more

Alaska’s Renewable Energy Future: New Jobs, Affordable Energy

New research reveals that development of Alaska’s vast renewable energy resources has the potential to create more than 100,000 jobs across Alaska in the coming decades, more than replacing jobs that will be lost as the world transitions away from fossil fuels. Based on adjusting a sample of independent studies for Alaska cost differentials for … Read more

Pacific Environment Calls on Biden Administration for a Zero Emission Ship Standard, Protection for Port Communities

On March 1, President Biden mentioned port modernization and environmental justice in his State of the Union address, saying “We’ll create good jobs for millions of Americans, modernizing roads, airports, ports, and waterways all across America. And we’ll do it all to withstand the devastating effects of the climate crisis and promote environmental justice.” He … Read more

Advocates Welcome Ports of Los Angeles, Shanghai Announcement of First Transpacific Green Shipping Corridor Commitment 

LOS ANGELES (January 31, 2022) – The Port of Los Angeles, Port of Shanghai, and C40 Cities have announced that they will work with industry to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the movement of cargo throughout the 2020s, including a goal to “begin” transitioning to zero-carbon fueled ships by 2030 to cut emissions from one of the world’s busiest cargo routes.  … Read more

Maersk to Test Electric Charging Stations for Ports, Reducing Emissions from  Fossil-fueled Ocean Cargo Ships by 5 million tons a year overall 

LOS ANGELES (January 26, 2022) – Shipping giant Maersk announced that it will install hundreds of offshore electric-powered charging stations at ports to reduce emissions from the approximately 3,500 fossil-fueled ships in its fleet. The company plans to test the vessels and offshore charging stations for six to nine months and has committed to rollout … Read more

Coastal San Pedro Neighborhood Council Adopts Ship It Zero Resolution

SAN PEDRO (January 13, 2022) – The Coastal San Pedro Neighborhood Council became the first community within the Los Angeles area to adopt a motion supporting Ship It Zero, which has called for 100% zero-emission shipping by 2030. The Port of Los Angeles, one of the busiest top ports in the U.S., is partially located within San Pedro. The Los Angeles area receives 40% of … Read more

Governor Newsom’s Budget Includes Key Funding for Electrifying Ports, Aviation and Shipping Sectors

Governor Newsom’s Budget Includes Key Funding for Electrifying Ports, Aviation and Shipping Sectors  SACRAMENTO (January 10, 2022) – Today, Governor Newsom announced his proposed budget, which includes key provisions to tackle the dual threat of climate change and pollution at California’s ports, while electrifying sectors associated with dirty diesel air pollution.   For the first time, … Read more

Our Top 5 of 2021

In 2021, Pacific Environment partnered with community leaders to fight climate change, protect the oceans, build just societies, and move beyond fossil fuels toward a green economy. I’m proud of the historical wins we and local activists achieved this year. And I hope you are, too, because we couldn’t do what we do without the … Read more