USD 350,000 grant awarded to boost marine and coastal conservation efforts in Seas of East Asia

Bangkok (November 7, 2025) – Seven community-based organisations across the East Asian Seas have been awarded a total of USD 350,000 through the SEA Grants program to protect and conserve marine and coastal ecosystems in the South China Sea and Gulf of Thailand. Coastal communities in this region, a global centre of shallow-water tropical marine biodiversity, are facing … Read more

Pacific Environment applauds MOU to strengthen commitments to a green shipping corridor linking Korea and WA ports

SEATTLE — On November 5, 2025, the Busan Port Authority (BPA), the Northwest Seaport Alliance (NWSA), the Port of Tacoma (PoT), the Port of Seattle (PoS) and the Ulsan Port Authority (UPA) signed a Memorandum of Understanding agreeing to cooperate on green shipping corridors, decarbonize maritime shipping and accelerate the adoption of clean marine fuels. … Read more

Pacific Environment applauds Singapore and the Republic of Korea announcement to establish a green and digital shipping corridor

SAN FRANCISCO — The Ministry of Transport of the Republic of Singapore and the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries of the Republic of Korea have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to establish the Singapore-Republic of Korea Green and Digital Shipping Corridor. The MOU was signed by Singapore’s Acting Minister for Transport Mr. Jeffrey Siow, … Read more

U.S. ports get graded on protecting public health

SAN FRANCISCO — Around 31 million people in the U.S. live near ports, breathing toxic diesel pollution from ships, trucks, and cargo equipment every day. This pollution increases the risk of asthma, stroke, heart disease, and cancer, and disproportionately harms residents living near ports. Today, a coalition of national and community-based organizations launched the Clean … Read more

Resumed fifth global plastics treaty negotiations end with no agreement

GENEVA, SWITZERLAND — The fifth resumed session of the intergovernmental negotiating committee to advance a global plastics treaty (INC-5.2) ended with no global agreement to end plastic pollution and no clear path forward. The nearly two week negotiating process was haphazard with limits on civil society participation. While next steps are still unclear, a majority … Read more

Why shipping’s black carbon emissions demands urgent action

ANCHORAGE — A new report released today lays out the case for why the International Maritime Organization (IMO) should immediately act on reducing black carbon pollution — a climate super-pollutant. On Thin Ice: Why black carbon demands urgent action, by Pacific Environment, explores how the expansion of Arctic shipping is causing an increase in the … Read more

Whitehouse, Padilla, Matsui, Mullin reintroduce legislation to reduce ocean shipping pollution, modernize maritime industry

Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Ranking Member on the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee (EPW), and Alex Padilla (D-CA), a member of the Committee, along with Representatives Doris Matsui (D-CA-07) and Kevin Mullin (D-CA-15), reintroduced legislation aimed at reducing harmful pollution from the global shipping industry. Maritime shipping is a significant … Read more

Congressman Robert Garcia and Senator Alex Padilla reintroduce the ‘Clean Shipping Act’ to reduce port pollution and protect the health of port communities

Washington, D.C. – Today, Congressman Robert Garcia (CA-42) and Senator Alex Padilla (D-CA) reintroduced the Clean Shipping Act. This bill establishes a path to eliminate greenhouse gas emissions from large ships that come to U.S. ports, protecting the health of port communities and addressing the environmental and climate impacts of shipping pollution. Specifically, the bill would mandate … Read more

Refinery communities urge caution as California Energy Commission lays out approach to refinery closures

SACRAMENTO — Environmental justice, climate and refinery community groups urged caution today as the California Energy Commission laid out their approach to stabilizing supply and preparing for transition amid refinery closures. “Big Oil is manipulating supply issues to shakedown taxpayers and maximize their profits,” said Darryl Molina Sarmiento, executive director of Communities for a Better … Read more

Blame game won’t solve California’s climate and energy crisis

SACRAMENTO — On Friday, May 30, California Assemblymember Jasmeet Bains (D-Delano) publicly called for Liane Randolph, chair of the California Air Resources Board (CARB), to resign. Chair Randolph’s testimony before the Assembly Utilities and Energy Committee was clear, nuanced and aligned with CARB’s long-standing mandate: to protect public health and advance clean air and climate … Read more

Activists stage mock Amazon Career Fair at University of Washington to spotlight company’s climate and labor failures

SEATTLE (Traditional Puget Sound Salish and Duwamish Lands) —  As Amazon continues its aggressive recruitment efforts at the University of Washington (UW), a coalition of climate and labor activists – including Stand.earth, the University of Washington Institutional Climate Action, and Troublemakers, with support from Pacific Environment’s Ship It Zero campaign – hosted a satirical “Amazon … Read more

International Maritime Organization climate talks fall short, groups still optimistic about clean shipping future

LONDON — The International Maritime Organization (IMO) concluded its latest round of climate negotiations without reaching a consensus on critical measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the global shipping industry, falling short of the climate targets under the IMO’s own 2023 GHG Strategy. The closed-door talks, held during the 83rd session of the Marine … Read more

Pacific Environment announces new California climate policy director

SACRAMENTO — Pacific Environment welcomes Davina Hurt as its new California Climate Policy Director, effective January 30, 2025. Prior to joining Pacific Environment, Davina Hurt was appointed to the California Air Resources Board by Governor Gavin Newsom in December 2020 and served on the board for more than four years. Ms. Hurt is an attorney, … Read more

CMA CGM Group orders electric barge for Nike goods 

VIETNAM — According to The Maritime Executive, CMA CGM plans to operate and develop a 100% electric barge for Nike goods in Vietnam. The group said that the barge is part of its long-term commitment and decarbonization plans. However, CMA also told Loadstar this week that it ordered 12 new liquefied natural gas (LNG) vessels … Read more

IKEA leads on green shipping, but more action needed for zero-emission ships

SAN FRANCISCO — Pacific Environment’s Ship It Zero coalition commends IKEA for continuing to prioritize maritime shipping decarbonization, as reflected in the company’s FY24 Climate and Sustainability reports released this week. As the leading retailer in green shipping, Pacific Environment encourages IKEA to push other retailers to move towards zero-emission ships and commit to truly … Read more

Maersk and Hapag Lloyd tout sustainability, but their agreement still runs on dirty, fossil fuels

SAN FRANCISCO — Offshore Energy reported today that industry giants Hapag-Lloyd and Maersk have signed an agreement for a new long-term operational collaboration called ”Gemini Cooperation,” which will start in February 2025. The following statement is from Jonathan Butler, Pacific Environment’s Climate Campaign Manager for Corporate and lead representative of the Ship It Zero campaign:  … Read more

Pacific Environment celebrates introduction of Washington statewide shore power policy bill

SEATTLE (February 5, 2025) — Today, Pacific Environment celebrated the introduction of HB 1689 by Washington State Representatives Julia Reed, Liz Berry, Lisa Parshley, Beth Doglio, Gerry Pollet and Alex Ramel. The landmark bill will direct the Department of Ecology to adopt a statewide shore power policy that will accelerate shore power installation across the … Read more