
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...

September 2025 Newsletter: World Maritime Day, sustainable tourism and the future of plastics
Welcome to Pacific Environment’s September newsletter! This month, we celebrate World Maritime Day by highlighting how cleaner shipping solutions are transforming ports, protecting communities and addressing climate impacts. Additionally, we spotlight emerging zero-waste tourism initiatives in Asia and provide context and expert insight on what’s next following the recent...

September 2025 Newsletter: World Maritime Day, sustainable tourism and the future of plastics
Welcome to Pacific Environment’s September newsletter! This month, we celebrate World Maritime Day by highlighting how cleaner shipping solutions are transforming ports, protecting communities and addressing climate impacts. Additionally, we spotlight emerging zero-waste tourism initiatives in Asia and provide...

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...

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...

Poison in the water: The call to ban scrubber discharge
Pacific Environment’s new report exposes the hidden costs of scrubber wastewater — from severe ecological damage to serious human health risks. With the International Maritime Organization’s Pollution Prevention and Response Subcommittee meeting in London (January 27–31, 2025), we are calling for an immediate global ban on scrubber discharge into...