EPA approves partial waiver for commercial harbor craft, clearing the air for millions of Californians and catalyzing technology innovation

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Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) approved the majority of California Air Resources Board’s (CARB) waiver request for the Commercial Harbor Craft Rule, including most of the zero-emission requirements.   This regulation paves the way for zero-emissions harbor craft such as ferries, tugboats and workboats. This rule will significantly improve the air  Californians living by … Read more

New York City Council introduces Zero-Emission Ports Feasibility Study Bill

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NEW YORK CITY (December 19, 2024) — The New York City Council introduced Bill LS 17648 today that calls for a feasibility study of zero-emission port operations by 2040 that includes all aspects of port transportation, maintenance, loading and unloading, ocean-going vessels, handling equipment, trucks and locomotives. The feasibility study would be delivered one year … Read more

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

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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

Rep. Barragán introduces Zero-Emission Vessel Innovation Act

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WASHINGTON – Today, Congresswoman Nanette Barragán (D-CA) introduced the Zero-Emission Vessel Innovation Act, a bill that would support the development and deployment of clean shipping technology to transition to zero-emission vessels. The legislation would significantly reduce pollution, promote environmental justice, and green the shipping industry—a vital component of the global economy and coastal communities. Maritime shipping … Read more

Washington voters protect Climate Commitment Act

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SEATTLE — On November 5, 2024, voters in Washington defeated a ballot initiative that would have repealed the Climate Commitment Act (CCA), the market-based cap-and-invest program requiring the state’s largest polluters to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. More than 575 organizations in a diverse coalition including labor, Tribal, environmental and business stakeholders joined together to protect … Read more

Port of Seattle celebrates cruise shore power

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SEATTLE (October 28, 2024) – This past June, the Port of Seattle became the first port in the nation to independently require that 100% of all cruise vessels homeported in Seattle be shore power capable and utilize shore power by 2027, three years before the Port’s previous goal of 2030. Today, the Port of Seattle … Read more

Is Amazon failing on its maritime decarbonization commitments?

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As Amazon races to kickoff the holiday season with its two-day Prime Day member events on October 8th and 9th, Pacific Environment’s Ship It Zero campaign is again sounding the alarm about the harms caused by Amazon’s ever-increasing fossil-fueled deliveries with the launch of the Ship It Zero 2024 Amazon Decarbonization Progress Report.  The progress … Read more

Amazon’s U.S. transportation pollution surges since company announced ‘Climate Pledge’ five years ago

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SEATTLE (Traditional Puget Sound Salish and Duwamish Lands) — Since Amazon announced its “Climate Pledge” initiative to reduce emissions in September of 2019, the company continued to expand its U.S. shipping and deliveries pollution – and today, a joint investigation by Stand.earth Research Group (SRG), the Clean Mobility Collective (CMC), and the Ship it Zero … Read more

Alaska Conservation Foundation Announces 2024 Conservation Achievement Awardees

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Anchorage, Alaska – Alaska Conservation Foundation is proud to announce the recipients of the 2024 Alaska Conservation Achievement Awards. These awards recognize the remarkable achievements of individuals and organizations committed to protecting Alaska’s wild landscapes, natural resources and unique ways of life. Each year, Alaska Conservation Foundation celebrates the tireless efforts of these community members who … Read more

Ship Pollution: From Air to Ocean

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A policy paper released today by Pacific Environment reveals that there is a huge body of scientific work and studies that show that Exhaust Gas Cleaning Systems (ECGS) – otherwise known as scrubbers – are detrimental to the marine environment, wildlife and people’s health.  Read the paper. “Ship pollution: From air to ocean. The science … Read more

Pacific Environment applauds US’ stronger stance on Global Plastics Treaty

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WASHINGTON, DC, August 16, 2024 — Pacific Environment applauds the Biden administration shifting its position to take a stronger stance on the Global Plastics Treaty, including signaling an openness to including legally binding measures to reduce global plastic production.  The United States had previously held a position that capping plastic production should be left to … Read more

Legal Petition to Interior Department Urges Climate Analysis, Phasedown of Trans-Alaska Oil Pipeline

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ANCHORAGE, Alaska— Several environmental groups filed a legal petition today asking the Department of the Interior for a new analysis of the climate damage and other harms related to the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System. The petition also calls for a plan to phase down the pipeline’s operations. The Center for Biological Diversity, Pacific Environment, Sovereign Iñupiat … Read more

California can lead the world to reduce emissions from ocean cargo ships, lower climate impacts, and improve air quality around ports

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BERKELEY, Calif. (May 21, 2024) — Two reports co-released today by Goldman School of Public Policy, University of California Berkeley and Energy & Environmental Research Associates delve into policy changes and technology to decarbonize ocean going vessels. Non-profit Pacific Environment commissioned these reports. This set of reports seeks to inform stakeholders and policymakers on potential … Read more

Pacific Environment and Ulsan Port Authority Sign MOU to Accelerate Zero-Emission Shipping and Ports Between US and Republic of Korea

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SINGAPORE (April 16, 2024) – During Singapore Maritime Week 2024, Pacific Environment and the Ulsan Port Authority signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) outlining a vision of multi-year collaboration to accelerate zero-emission shipping and ports in the Republic of Korea, within Asia, across transpacific and global corridors. The MOU Signing Ceremony occurred during a joint … Read more

MEPC81: Support For Pricing Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Shipping Grows But Important Pieces Of Puzzle Still Missing

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London, 22 March, 2024 — As this week’s meeting of the International Maritime Organization’s Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC 81, March 18-22) winds down, the Clean Shipping Coalition welcomed the growing support for a greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions levy, but warned that IMO member states must also maintain focus on other key issues such as … Read more