May 2026 newsletter

Welcome to the May edition of Pacific Current! For more than five decades, May has been recognized as Clean Air Month. This edition of Pacific Current will look at our clean air efforts around the U.S. and the world and also showcase our latest report on maritime decarbonization in Korea. We’ll also announce a special award and spotlight stories about the harms of black carbon in the Arctic.

Happy Clean Air Month from Pacific Environment!

Ocean-going ships typically traverse the seas running on the dirtiest fuel, polluting the air in nearby communities. That’s why this Clean Air Month, we are making the connection between clean air, clean shipping and cleaner ports. Here are three clean air wins that our Climate and Arctic teams have been advancing: a landmark clean air zone at sea at the International Maritime Organization, policy recommendations advocating for a cleaner future for the governments and ports of Japan and Republic of Korea, and a fossil-free ordinance moving forward in Newark, New Jersey. Progress is happening, and Pacific Environment and our partners are leading the way.

Pacific Environment wins twice in annual Communicator Awards

Pacific Environment is proud to announce that its newly redesigned website has received two Award of Excellence honors at the 2026 Communicator Awards, the program’s highest distinction for excellence in communications and digital storytelling. Pacific Environment won awards in categories for non-profit organizations and for website redesigns. The Communicator Awards are presented by the Academy of Interactive & Visual Arts to celebrate strong, effective and innovative work across marketing and communications. We hope you also enjoy our redesigned website, and you can read more about the 2026 Communicator Awards in our press release.

New report underscores how port electrification may solve Korea’s portside energy challenges

A new study from Pacific Environment highlights the opportunity for the Republic of Korea’s ports to be reimagined as renewable energy hubs by using unused renewable energy for port and ocean shipping electrification. The report, titled “Renewable energy-based port electrification in Republic of Korea,” launched during the country’s “Go to Sea Month,” a time to celebrate the essential role of the ocean and marine resources. “What is needed is not just expanding renewable energy or electrifying ports separately, but creating a system that directly connects the two,” writes Hyunjin Jo, Pacific Environment’s shipping and ports associate.

Celebrating waste pickers on World Day for Safety and Health at Work

Photo credit: Thai Phat, Pexels

Before your trash reaches its final destination — such as a recycling facility, landfill or incinerator — it likely passes through someone’s hands. Twenty million people around the world make their living sorting, collecting, recycling and salvaging what the rest of us throw away. Pacific Environment recently learned and shared the stories of five waste pickers in Vietnam, highlighting their expertise, resilience and contributions to environmental protection. On World Day for Safety and Health at Work (April 28), we highlighted how waste pickers’ expertise is crucial to tackling the waste crisis — and building a just, zero-waste future.

Maritime shipping’s first potential carbon levy survives MEPC84 with growing support, next steps this autumn

With the world’s most significant maritime shipping body — the International Maritime Organization — wrapping up its most-recent meetings in London on May 1, now we know where the Net-Zero Framework stands.

While there is still much work and negotiating ahead, the NZF survived the 84th Marine Environment Protection Committee meeting, with a slight majority supporting it and fewer member states opposing it than the last meeting. Two intersessional working group meetings — which Pacific Environment will join — will take place this autumn ahead of MEPC85 in November.

While in London, Pacific Environment staff took advantage of our unique observer status within the IMO. Our Climate & Renewable Energy Manager Jamie Yates supported various member states to advance their own progressive recommendations and opened new dialogue between member states. Our Climate Policy Director Davina Hurt kept a close watch on the U.S. delegation’s actions and next steps.

The Net-Zero Framework has had a challenging path so far — read our blog post on what we expected going into MEPC84 for a recap.

In the news

Explore some of our latest media highlights and expert commentary featured in leading outlets.

News

• IMO Urged To Ramp Up Efforts on Curbing Shipping’s Black Carbon Impacts on Arctic (Cyprus Shipping News)
• Reimagining South Korea’s ports as renewable energy hubs (ship.energy)

Commentary

• Mandating cleaner shipping fuels could slow the Arctic meltdown (Environmental Managers Magazine)
• Alaska LNG export project requires further massive public subsidy (Alaska Beacon)

We’re joining Move LA in Long Beach!

Pacific Environment is proud to partner with Move LA for their 2026 Community Conversation and Policy Conference on June 24. For the first time, this event is heading to the Long Beach Convention Center to build momentum for the next generation of transit, housing and clean air solutions. Pacific Environment staff will be on the ground to support. We’d love to see you there as we map out a more mobile and affordable LA County with Move LA!

Make a gift today to support our oceans through Pacific Environment

World Ocean Month is just around the corner and Pacific Environment needs your help to protect our oceans, coastal communities and the planet. Make your gift today to cut emissions, safeguard ecosystems and build a healthier future for biodiversity.