U.S. ports get graded on protecting public health

Press Release | October 2, 2025
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

Blog Post | September 25, 2025 | Salo Aburto
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...

Making tourism trash-free: How businesses across Asia are creating new models for zero-waste tourism 

Blog Post | September 25, 2025 | Leah Dunlevy
Tourism is transforming many of the world’s most beautiful and culturally-significant places into dumping grounds for plastic waste —...

Biennial awards ceremony showcases the Philippines’ commitment to marine conservation

Blog Post | September 24, 2025 | Janine Bobadilla & Michael Atrigenio
Two years after the last prestigious Para El Mar MPA Awards & Recognition in the Philippines took place, Pacific...

From local action to global vision: Advancing clean shipping this World Maritime Day

Blog Post | September 23, 2025 | Teresa Bui, Davina Hurt and Antonio Santos
With new shore power projects at home and ongoing advocacy on the global stage, Pacific Environment is charting a...

September 2025 Newsletter: World Maritime Day, sustainable tourism and the future of plastics

Blog Post | September 25, 2025 | Salo Aburto
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...

Making tourism trash-free: How businesses across Asia are creating new models for zero-waste tourism 

Blog Post | September 25, 2025 | Leah Dunlevy
Tourism is transforming many of the world’s most beautiful and culturally-significant places into dumping grounds for plastic waste — something that no resident or tourist wants to experience. Tourists generate significantly more waste per capita than local residents, and...

Biennial awards ceremony showcases the Philippines’ commitment to marine conservation

Blog Post | September 24, 2025 | Janine Bobadilla & Michael Atrigenio
Two years after the last prestigious Para El Mar MPA Awards & Recognition in the Philippines took place, Pacific...

From local action to global vision: Advancing clean shipping this World Maritime Day

Blog Post | September 23, 2025 | Teresa Bui, Davina Hurt and Antonio Santos
With new shore power projects at home and ongoing advocacy on the global stage, Pacific Environment is charting a...

Plugged in for a cleaner future: Seattle and Tacoma lead shore power advances

Blog Post | September 2, 2025 | Fern Uennatornwaranggoon
How Washington’s busiest ports are reducing pollution and leading the way in maritime sustainability From cruise ships plugging into...

U.S. ports get graded on protecting public health

Press Release | October 2, 2025
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

Press Release | August 15, 2025
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...

Pacific Environment announces new head of programs and new senior director for Climate Program

Press Release | August 11, 2025
SAN FRANCISCO — Pacific Environment is proud to announce the promotion of Grace Healy to Head of Programs and...

Civil society calls for a strong Global Plastics Treaty ahead of final round of negotiations

Press Release | August 5, 2025
GENEVA, SWITZERLAND — The Pacific Environment team is on the ground in Geneva, Switzerland for the final round of...

Why shipping’s black carbon emissions demands urgent action

Press Release | July 30, 2025
ANCHORAGE — A new report released today lays out the case for why the International Maritime Organization (IMO) should...

On thin ice: Why black carbon demands urgent action

Report | July 30, 2025
Black carbon from Arctic shipping is accelerating climate breakdown. Pacific Environment's new report calls for urgent regulation to switch to cleaner fuels and protect the Arctic.

Poison in the water: The call to ban scrubber discharge

Report | January 28, 2025
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...

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

Report | May 23, 2024
Two reports co-released today by Goldman School of Public Policy, University of California Berkeley and Energy & Environmental Research...

Making Reuse the Key Solution to the Climate Crisis

Report | May 20, 2023
Plastic pollution threatens the ecological environment, human health, and is a key driver of climate change. Single-use plastic is...

Stemming the Plastic-Climate Crisis

Report | May 10, 2023
In honor of International Plastic Free Day and ahead of the Global Plastics Treaty negotiations, Pacific Environment has released...