Partnering to protect the oceans and marine life

Pacific Environment awards prize to largest locally managed Marine Protected Area We have just returned from another successful partnership with the Para El Mar MPA Awards (for the sea), a biennial event that aims to recognize and award the outstanding locally-managed marine protected areas (MPAs) and MPA networks in the Philippines. The awards were spirited, … Read more

The Global Plastics Treaty negotiations ended on a precarious note

Paris, France (June 2, 2023) – The second meeting of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-2) for a global agreement to end plastic pollution concluded today at the UNESCO headquarters in Paris, with civil society organizations appealing to governments not to allow the use of dilatory tactics and procedural questions to set back progress and lower … Read more

Biden Administration Approves Climate Warming Oil Project Despite Overwhelming Opposition

Today, the Biden administration approved ConocoPhillips’ Willow project in the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska, despite the 4.5 million comments received from Americans calling to reject this climate harming project. The Record of Decision approves the development of Alternative E, as described in the Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement. The ROD denied two of the five drill … Read more

Pacific Environment Applauds Historic Oceans Treaty

United Nations conference chair and Singapore’s Ambassador for Oceans and Law of the Sea Issues Rena Lee announced a historic international treaty to protect the high seas, which covers nearly half the planet. This deal is seen as vital to conserving 30% of the world’s lands and ocean by 2020, as agreed to by about 190 … Read more

Go hard and early: UN’s historic opportunity to act on shipping

The stage is set for the UN to finally call time on greenhouse gas emissions from international shipping, following a week of climate talks at the International Maritime Organization (IMO) in London. While the IMO failed to adopt a concrete shipping decarbonisation target for shipping this week, there was widespread support for eliminating the industry’s … Read more

The Heart of the Ocean: Alaska’s First National Marine Sanctuary?

A new source of hope for sustainability and Indigenous co-management of natural resources is being developed far off the Alaskan coast. Alaĝum Kanuux̂, or Heart of the Ocean, is set to become Alaska’s first National Marine Sanctuary — a model for truly sustainable co-management of environmental and cultural resources.  In the Bering Sea, 300 miles … 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

***MEDIA ADVISORY*** – “Alaska’s Path to a Prosperous Future” Webinar Jan. 27

ANCHORAGE, AK (Jan. 21) – A visionary panel of some of Alaska’s most innovative economic leaders will share concrete examples of how they’re building resilient, equitable, and sustainable economic initiatives across our state. Regenerative economic activity is already happening in diverse economic sectors across Alaska. We want to garner support for these efforts so they can … Read more

Our Top 5 of 2019

With the support of activists like you, we are building people power around the Pacific Rim to fight climate change, defend the oceans, promote open and inclusive societies, and ensure a just transition to a clean energy future for all. Here are five accomplishments I’m especially proud of this year. They would not have been … Read more

Decisions in London, Impacts in the Arctic

Earlier this year, Mellisa Maktuayaq Johnson told a room full of international shipping experts in London that “the sea and the land are our store.” Most people in the audience are used to shopping at supermarkets like Safeway or Costco, so it took a moment before they grasped the implications of what they were hearing. … Read more

Mapping Carnival’s Destructive Wake

Imagine: Sheer walls of blue ice wedge their way through mountains to meet the sea. Humpback whales rise to the surface to feed on gulps of herring and krill. Seagulls flock to the whales’ cavernous open mouths to snatch a meal. Small coastal communities that live as one with the land and sea. For more … Read more

Which Arctic or Subarctic Marine Mammal are You?

Earth’s northern waters are home to some of the most unique wildlife. From a swimming unicorn to a melonheaded friendly ghost to a super intelligent creature named for the Roman god of the underworld.* And if you ever wondered which one you would be, we’ve got you covered. Check out the personality quiz below and … Read more

Celebrate Marine Life with Us this #WorldWildlifeDay!

From the Arctic to Asia Pacific, this year we are celebrating marine life. Check out our new video to see how much our lives depend on healthy oceans. Pacific Environment and our local partners protect critical habitat for marine species in the Arctic and Pacific oceans. We help establish protective zones that allow threatened wildlife … Read more

Clean Arctic Alliance Hails Progress on Heavy Fuel Oil Ban But Warns Arctic Nations To Remain Focused

London, February 22, 2019 – As a meeting of the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) Sub-Committee on Pollution Prevention and Response (PPR 6) closes today in London, the Clean Arctic Alliance welcomed progress but calls on Arctic Nations Russia and Canada to step-up to their responsibilities by adding their support for a ban on heavy fuel oil (HFO) … Read more

A Heartwarming Story: Russia’s Wild Tiger Population

In this cold weather season, here’s a heartwarming story from the Russian Far East. And while I’m not usually one for watching cat videos on YouTube, this story comes with the cutest footage I’ve ever seen of tiger cubs. Check it out! For the first time ever, four Siberian tiger cubs were caught on camera in … Read more

Send an Arctic Valentine

Do you love the Arctic and its unique ocean wildlife? So do I, but Carnival Corporation, which claims to value a clean environment and sustainability, threatens to destroy everything we love about the Arctic. How? This new interactive map shows that Carnival’s cruise ships travel across Arctic and Alaskan waters fueled by the dirtiest fossil fuel on … Read more

Carnival Corporation cruise ships put Arctic, Subarctic marine mammals at risk, groundbreaking new map shows

SAN FRANCISCO — A groundbreaking new interactive map released today by the international Clean Up Carnival coalition shows that nearly half of Carnival Corporation cruise ships traveling through the Arctic and Subarctic pass near or through critical habitats for marine mammals including orca, walrus, and bowhead, narwhal, and beluga whales. The map details information on … Read more

Our Top 7 of 2018

Here are seven accomplishments I’m especially proud of this year. They would not have been possible without your generosity and passion. We won strong international protections for Arctic and Alaskan communities and wildlife. New rules now require ships to avoid fragile marine ecosystems around three islands in the Bering Sea (Nunivak Island, St. Lawrence Island, and King Island)—reducing the … Read more