Biden-Harris administration ports and waterways plan ignores pollution, renewable energy sources for ocean shipping

WASHINGTON (November 10, 2021) – Just this morning, we welcomed Secretary Buttigieg’s role in launching the Clydebank Declaration for Clean Shipping Corridors at COP26.  As a major climate advocate, this is why we are shocked and disappointed that his agency’s port plan so deeply missed the mark. Earlier this week, ICYMI, the Biden-Harris administration released … Read more

Advocacy groups welcome COP26 Clydebank Declaration for Clean Shipping, but caution Declaration leaves room for delay

GLASGOW (November 10, 2021) – Today, at COP26, the United Kingdom led a coalition of 18 countries to join the first ever framework to create zero-emission ocean shipping corridors, the Clydebank Declaration for Clean Shipping Corridors. Signatories to the the Clydebank Declaration agree to work together to support the establishment of green shipping corridors, defined … Read more

COP26: Ship It Zero coalition welcomes Amazon participation in First Movers Coalition

Today at COP26, Amazon joined the White House’s First Movers Coalition, a public-private partnership launched by U.S. President Joe Biden and the World Economic Forum to commercialize emerging technologies essential to decarbonizing heavy industries, including ocean shipping. Climate and shipping experts with environmental advocacy groups Stand.earth and Pacific Environment, which lead the Ship It Zero … Read more

Congress, White House Reconciliation Package Must Maintain Historic Climate Investments for Shipping, Ports and Freight

WASHINGTON (October 28, 2021) –The White House and key members of Congress have released a $1.85 trillion framework for the upcoming reconciliation package, which includes a historic $550 billion to invest in combating the ongoing climate crisis. Tyler McFadden, Federal Climate Policy Manager at Pacific Environment, made the following statement: “Pacific Environment welcomes this historic … Read more

Walmart, Target Must Take Accountability for Spiking Port Pollution in Los Angeles, Long Beach

LOS ANGELES, CA – The Biden-Harris administration authorized 24/7 operations at the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach to ease import backlogs, working with top importers including Walmart, Target, Home Depot, and Lowe’s to accelerate shipments of goods throughout the country yesterday. The Ship It Zero Coalition calls on the Biden-Haris administration, Walmart, Target, … Read more

Major Retailers Linked to Polluting Shipping Practices That Harm Public Health and Climate

SEATTLE, WA — Just fifteen companies are responsible for emitting millions of tons of pollution from importing their goods into the United States on fossil-fueled ships, according to a study released today from Pacific Environment and Stand.earth. Shady Ships: Retail Giants Pollute Communities and Climate with Fossil-Fueled Ocean Shipping is the first study to quantify … Read more

Shady Ships: Retail Giants Pollute Communities and Climate with Fossil-Fueled Ocean Shipping

Just fifteen companies are responsible for emitting millions of tons of pollution from importing their goods into the United States on fossil-fueled ships. Our report Shady Ships: Retail Giants Pollute Communities and Climate with Fossil-Fueled Ocean Shipping is the first study to quantify the environmental and public health impacts from some of the biggest American … Read more

UN Shipping Agency Fails to Reduce Shipping Industry’s Climate Emissions

Failure to reduce the shipping industry’s climate emissions marred the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO’s) recently concluded meeting involving representatives of more than 60 countries. Pacific Environment and other civil society observers expressed dismay at the lack of agreement or even consideration of meaningful action to address the climate crisis by the U.N. shipping agency’s Marine … Read more

You Made a Difference in 2020

We support community leaders to fight climate change, protect the oceans, build just societies, and move away from fossil fuels toward a green economy. With your help, over the past year we supported local partners with more than $430,000 in grants, expert trainings and skill-building workshops, as well as travel stipends to advocate for change at international … Read more

This is an Emergency!

Amid the crises we have been struggling with in 2020, in our communities, in our nation, and in the world, I find myself more appreciative than ever of your support. Let me share a few examples of how your contribution to Pacific Environment makes a meaningful and important difference in tackling one of our most important global emergencies: … Read more

Pacific Environment urges Maersk against $1.6bn share buybacks

On November 25, 2020, Pacific Environment wrote to A.P. Møller – Mærsk (“Maersk”), the world’s largest container shipping company, urging them to invest in zero-emissions vessel innovation and related infrastructure rather than host a $1.6bn share buyback. According to reporting by the Financial Times on November 20, 2020, A.P. Møller – Mærsk is preparing to … Read more

UN Shipping Body Fails to Implement Its Own Greenhouse Gas Reduction Plan

Hopes for bold action to reduce the global shipping sector’s huge greenhouse gas emissions were dashed this week when a ‘business as usual’ draft text was approved. In pursuing this outcome, many countries have actively worked to undermine the IMO Initial Strategy goals, and knowingly broken their Paris Agreement commitment to pursue 1.5℃ compatible emissions … Read more

Pacific Environment Welcomes Shipping Focus in Ocean-Based Climate Solutions Act of 2020

San Francisco, California. – Pacific Environment welcomes introduction of the landmark Ocean-Based Climate Solutions Act of 2020 in the U.S. House of Representatives today and commends its authors for focusing in on curbing ships’ climate emissions. The shipping industry emits over 1 billion tons of carbon dioxide in addition to climate-warming super pollutants methane and … Read more