SHIP IT ZERO

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

New report reveals 18% year-over-year growth in CO2 emissions from Amazon’s U.S. shipping and deliveries

Since Amazon announced its “Climate Pledge” initiative to reduce emissions in September 2019, the company continued to expand its U.S. shipping and deliveries pollution — and this month, a joint investigation by Stand.earth Research Group (SRG), the Clean Mobility Collective (CMC) and Pacific Environment’s Ship it Zero (SiZ) campaign reveals Amazon’s greenhouse gas emissions have dramatically increased since that announcement.

Over the five-year period since 2019, Prime Polluter reveals Amazon continued expanding emissions from its U.S. imports and domestic deliveries at an average annual growth rate (AAGR) of 18%, from 3.33 million metric tons carbon dioxide in 2019 to 5.84 million metric tons carbon dioxide in 2023. Key contributors to this increased pollution include Amazon’s growing dependence on air freight shipping (+67% CO2 emissions) and expansion of fossil fuel-powered delivery vans (+195% CO2 emissions).

Key highlights from this investigation include:

• From 2019 to 2023, Amazon has increased its U.S. air freight pollution by 67% (average annual growth of 15%), reflecting a deliberate decision to bypass emissions reduction initiatives with an increased aviation focus. Last year, air freight generated more than 42% of the carbon emissions of a package’s journey in the U.S. 
• From 2019 to 2023, Amazon’s delivery van carbon dioxide emissions grew over 190%, and its heavy-duty truck emissions grew by 51%. Heavy-duty trucks comprise the second largest share of U.S. dock-to-door emissions, with 37% of each package’s carbon output.
• Amazon’s U.S. inbound and domestic marine shipping emissions increased 26% in 2023 compared to 2019. The company has not announced plans for the transition of this sector to zero emissions.
• In 2023, Amazon Logistics U.S. dock-to-door delivery pollution generated 5.8 million metric tons of carbon dioxide (+18% average year-over-year since 2019). 

Explore our recent study in-depth

ARCTIC

Pacific Environment and partners host informative webinar on the problem of ship scrubber pollution in Alaska waters

Experts and impacted community members detail devastating consequences of cruise ship and ocean-going vessel scrubber use

Co-hosts and experts from Pacific Environment, Southeast Alaska Conservation Council and Alaska Community Action on Toxics held an hour-long webinar on scrubber pollution and what can be done to end it, followed by a Q&A session. 

Panelists explained what exhaust gas scrubbers are and how they work, as well as why the use of scrubbers has proliferated over the years. Additionally they shared their perspectives of the impacts of cruise ships and resulting pollution, illustrating the value of and threats to traditional homelands, habitat and food systems. A growing body of scientific work and studies show that Exhaust Gas Cleaning Systems —  otherwise known as scrubbers —  are detrimental to the marine environment, wildlife and people’s health. On the surface, having scrubbers on ships might sound like a good thing — a way to take pollution from burning fossil fuels out of the air — but scrubbers transfer enormous amounts of extremely toxic pollution from the air and, instead, dump it into our oceans.

Watch our latest webinar to learn more

CLIMATE

Advocating for clean shipping during New York City’s Climate Week

Climate Week NYC is hosted by Climate Group, an international non-profit whose purpose is to drive climate action, fast. Climate Week NYC is the largest annual climate event of its kind, bringing together over 600 events and activities across the City of New York — in person, hybrid and online. Each year, business leaders, political change makers, local decision-makers and civil society representatives of all ages and backgrounds, from all over the world, gather to drive the transition, speed up progress and champion change that is already happening. 

Climate Group hosts the official program during the week that brings together the most senior international figures from business, government, civil society and the climate sector. 

On Sept. 24, Pacific Environment’s Ship It Zero team joined panelists from Stand.earth, East Yard Communities for Environmental Justice and the Moving Forward Network to address the negative climate and environmental justice impacts of our current transportation infrastructure — with a particular emphasis on the e-commerce sector’s skyrocketing emissions. The session was moderated by Andrea Vidaurre of People’s Collective for Environmental Justice, the 2024 Goldman Environmental Prize winner. 

The maritime shipping sector is largely powered by polluting fossil fuels. However, it’s not the only sector of the transportation industry guilty of polluting our planet, neighborhoods and our lungs: the entire transportation industry is a key driver in the climate crisis, accounting for nearly a quarter of all greenhouse gas emissions. That’s why we need to clean up and decarbonize the transportation industry to move toward a just future for all. 

Elevating the climate impacts of the transportation industry at Climate Week NYC puts this often overlooked sector into the spotlight and raises awareness that local, state, federal and international regulators must adopt strong limits on carbon pollution!

TAKE ACTION

Champion the Beyond Methane Pledge!

Join Pacific Environment and the Say No to LNG coalition, an international shipping coalition, in signing the “Beyond Methane Pledge.” The pledge calls on industry leaders — including ship owners, cargo owners, ports, cities, policymakers, energy producers, suppliers/utilities, transporters and financial institutions — to end liquefied natural gas (LNG) and other methane-based fuels.

LNG, and other methane-based fuels such as bio-methane and e-methane, are primarily composed of methane: an extremely powerful greenhouse gas with 80 times more global warming potential than carbon dioxide in the short-term. Methane leaks throughout supply chains and poses significant risks to the climate, environment and public health. 

Learn more about the pledge

STAFF

Kay Brown, Pacific Environment, honored with Lifetime Achievement Award in Alaska

The Alaska Conservation Foundation recently announced 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. Receiving the Foundation’s highest honor was Kay Brown, Arctic Policy Director for Pacific Environment.

Over almost five decades in Alaska, Kay has been a leader for the causes of conservation and pro-climate action. Her work includes promoting a clean, prosperous future for Alaska, advocating for the decarbonization of the economy, and moving Alaska off fossil fuels. Kay participates in the Alaska Climate Alliance on behalf of Pacific Environment and has served as Arctic Policy Director since 2020. She is a former Alaska State Representative and former Executive Director of the Alaska Conservation Alliance and Alaska Conservation Voters. In 2017, she was inducted into the Alaska Women’s Hall of Fame.

Read more about Kay’s accomplishments