June 2025 Newsletter: World Ocean Month highlights

By

​Welcome to Pacific Environment’s June newsletter — and happy World Ocean Month! This month, we are highlighting some of our work in California to reduce climate pollution, advance environmental justice and demonstrate the state’s leadership on clean energy initiatives both domestically and internationally. JUMP AHEAD

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

By

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

Pacific Environment’s August 2024 Newsletter: The stories of our work for people and the planet

By

Welcome to the August 2024 edition of Pacific Environment’s monthly e-newsletter! This is an opportunity to highlight some of our work and share our victories for communities, climate and wildlife. Arctic Ship Pollution: From Air to Ocean The Science on Pollution Scrubbers and Why EPA Should Ban Scrubber Discharge Pacific Environment recently released a policy … Read more

The cure for disposable “plastic crap” is here — and it’s simple

By

How WIRED’s recent piece on the solution to plastic pollution circumvents the emerging science on plastic and public health. WIRED’s article, “The Cure for Disposable Plastic Crap Is Here—and It’s Loony,” highlights the urgent and daunting task of tackling plastic pollution, but completely misses the point that the solution to the plastic problem is actually … Read more

Clean air victory: New rule will curb deadly pollution from Southern California railyards — ports should be next.

By

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

Champion the Beyond Methane Pledge

By

The Say No to LNG campaign, an international shipping coalition, launched the “Beyond Methane Pledge,” calling on industry leaders to end LNG and other methane-based fuels. The pledge calls upon key industry leaders, including ship owners, cargo owners, ports, cities, policymakers, energy producers, suppliers/utilities, transporters, and financial institutions, to take decisive action by committing to … Read more

Reducing Single-use Plastic and Imagining a Sustainable Future Through Art

By

This month, Pacific Environment and the Vietnam Zero Waste Alliance hosted the Young Painter Contest as part of Plastic Free July. Part of a broader campaign to reduce single use plastics, Trendy July: Reduce Single-Use Plastic, Embrace Sustainability, aims to encourage sustainable living among younger generations through art tailored to primary school students across Vietnam. … Read more

We need all hands on deck for a strong Global Plastics Treaty

By

Last week, the Pacific Environment team returned home from the fourth meeting of the United Nations Global Plastics Treaty negotiations (also known as INC-4) in Ottawa, Canada. This meeting brought together delegates from over 160 countries, as well as hundreds of industry, civil society, Indigenous Peoples, rightsholders, health advocates and other observers. Our team focused … Read more

May Day pride means climate & labor side by side!

By

International Workers’ Day, also known as May Day, is the internationally-recognized labor holiday to honor the invaluable contributions of workers everywhere. This day started as a way to commemorate a general strike in the United States where workers fought for the adoption of the eight-hour workday, which began on May 1st, 1886. Today on May … Read more

Biden Administration Sets National Goal of Zero-Emissions Freight Sector Including Maritime

By

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