Pacific Environment

Did you know that for more than 15 years, the Alaska Gasline Development Corporation (AGDC) has spent nearly $500 million of Alaskans’ money and has NOTHING to show for it? ??? This new report looks at the economics of the Alaska LNG export project from Alaska’s North Slope to Southcentral Alaska and discusses the dismal prospects of all of the various proposals on the table: https://bit.ly/AKLNGreport ??Tell your legislator: Alaskans are facing both an energy and a budget crisis. Meanwhile, the legislature has let AGDC spend 15 years wasting nearly $500 million of Alaskans’ money with nothing to show for it. It’s time to end this wasteful spending and put public money towards real energy solutions for Alaskans. The resources and attention that AGDC has fruitlessly consumed could make a real difference to communities struggling to fund practical and timely renewable energy projects, such as those that have applied to the state's Renewable Energy Fund.? Stop funding ADGC. Invest in renewables and transmission upgrades instead. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/gqfukxDu

When I first agreed to this assignment on ocean shipping a few months ago, I had no idea how much would happen in the industry before the report came out. But the piece for CQ Researcher; CQ Global Researcher is out now, with fresh developments over control of the Panama Canal, Houthi attacks (and U.S. counterattacks) in the Red Sea, a White House office on shipbuilding, a narrowly avoided port strike on automation, a legal challenge to the always controversial Jones Act in Hawaii, congressional action on the maritime industry and all things China. Check it out at the link here. https://lnkd.in/eztvuvxy And do it soon, because the paywall goes up in a week! Many thanks to the many experts who helped me with this story, including Salvatore Mercogliano, Ph.D., What's Going on With Shipping, Nick Vyas, Jason Miller, Bruce Jones, Brian Justie of the UCLA Labor Center, Jennifer Carpenter, Joshua Thompson, Colin Grabow, Mark Coleman of the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii, Antonio Santos of Pacific Environment and Matt Schrap.

?? It’s time for polluters to pay. The global shipping industry is responsible for nearly 3% of global emissions, yet major corporations continue to burn heavy fuel oil with little accountability. This April, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) has a critical opportunity to change that by adopting a levy on shipping emissions. ?? A levy would: ? Hold top polluters accountable ? Generate billions in funding for a just transition ? Support climate-vulnerable nations ? Accelerate shipping’s shift to zero emissions Right now, shipping giants like Maersk and CMA CGM are making record profits — over $100 billion in 2024 alone — while communities on the global frontlines of the climate crisis pay the price. The IMO must act. ?? Read our op-ed in CommonDreams.org: https://bit.ly/43Bdzxv #PollutersMustPay #IMOMeetings #ClimateAction

??Davina Hurt, California Climate Policy Director, Pacific Environment will be speaking on a featured panel at this year’s VerdeXchange 2025 in Los Angeles, California! For 18 years, VerdeXchange has gathered speakers and attendees to assess the market and what’s needed to propel the global verde economy including: ??clean, green, and blue tech entrepreneurs,? ?energy and water companies,? ??advanced vehicle manufacturers,? ??software and hardware developers, ??public policymakers,? ??procurers and financers, &? ??environmental stewards ???Davina is excited to join leaders in maritime decarbonization this week at Verdexchange in Los Angeles to discuss innovative strategies for zero-emission shipping and port transformation. And, grateful to represent Pacific Environment and be in conversation with changemakers tackling some of the toughest climate challenges. More to come! More on VerdeXchange here: https://lnkd.in/eeCegG7? #MaritimeDecarbonization #JustTransition #CleanPorts #IMO

Our monthly newsletter is out now! The March edition covers: ?? Pacific Environment expands clean shipping advocacy to Japan ?? Advocates denounce CA's failure to implement plastic pollution prevention law ?? PE welcomes Davina Hurt as California climate policy director ?? Pacific Environment experts weigh in on the future of clean ports Check it out: ??

???? Shipping doesn’t need to wait for future technology to cut emissions — solutions are ready now. In a compelling new op-ed for The Maritime Executive, our colleague Kay Brown outlines how the shipping industry can reduce its climate impact today by harnessing wind power, slowing down ship speeds, and using more efficient routing. Key points from the piece: ??? Wind-assisted propulsion can reduce fuel use and emissions immediately. ??? Slow steaming — reducing ship speeds — is one of the fastest, most effective ways to cut climate pollution. ??? Smarter routing avoids delays and inefficiencies that waste fuel and increase emissions. Kay’s message is clear: with the tools already available, there’s no excuse for delay. The implementation of these advances could be achieved by strengthening the Carbon Intensity Indicator (CII), the IMO’s energy efficiency measure that has received little attention. It’s time for shipping to take real, meaningful action on climate. ?? Read the full op-ed here: https://bit.ly/4kMymnQ?

?? South Coast AQMD is on the verge of letting shipping companies off the hook — again.?? In a new blog, Pacific Environment and impacted community members expose how the South Coast AQMD’s draft Ports Indirect Source Rule (ISR) fails to deliver transparency on when we will see emission reductions from polluting ships, trucks, trains and cargo handling equipment at ports. Frontline communities deserve to know how much pollution they’re breathing — and for how much longer. Instead, this draft rule shields polluters by mandating what they are already committed to doing and leaves the public in the dark about tangible health benefits. ??East Yard Communities for Environmental Justice: “Southern California air regulators must put the health of our communities ahead of profits and finally clear the air with a rule that has teeth.” ?Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC): “A strong Ports ISR will accelerate port electrification and achieve emission reductions for communities that desperately need clean air.” We’re calling on SCAQMD to strengthen the rule by setting emission reduction targets, close loopholes in clean technology utilization, and require real reporting from the shipping industry. ?? Read the full blog: https://bit.ly/3FQynH7 #ZeroEmission #PortsForPeople #ClimateCrisis #StrongPortsISR

Pacific Environment staff are looking forward to Singapore Maritime Week (March 24-28, 2025) — one of the most important global gatherings for the maritime industry. With shipping’s decarbonization in focus, key discussions at the Accelerating Digitalisation and Decarbonization Conference (March 25-27) will shape the path forward. We're paying close attention to: ? Green/zero-emission fuels & electrification of ports and vessels ??? Efficiency measures, including wind propulsion ?? Policy & regulatory discussions leading into IMO MEPC 83 ?? Financing for maritime decarbonization ?? Advancing green shipping corridors With global leaders, innovators, and policymakers in attendance, this is a crucial moment to push for real progress in maritime sustainability. Let’s make waves for a cleaner future! ?? ?? for these staff on-the-ground at SMW! Grace Healy, Deputy Director, Climate Jie Ying Lim, Singapore Climate Specialist Katsunori Hirano, Japan Climate Specialist Min Zhou, Climate Manager, China Ted Zhang, Climate Analyst, China #ClimateAction #GreenShipping #ZeroEmissions #SingaporeMaritimeWeek

?? Safe water starts with action! ??Filtered water is a powerful solution to protect communities from toxic contaminants and the harms of single-use plastic bottles. Join Plastic Pollution Coalition in urging the EPA to implement proactive filter distribution programs in water systems affected by pollutants like lead, PFAS, and microplastics. Sign the petition to advance #FilteredNotBottled water and ensure safe water for everyone. ?? https://lnkd.in/gXN3NB66 #PlasticPollutes #BreakFreeFromPlastic #WaterEquity

Fern Uennatornwaranggoon, climate campaign director for ports with Pacific Environment, was recently quoted in an Associated Press article by Alexa St. John which discusses the future of clean ports — and the future of the funding provided from President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). The IRA provided needed funding to clean up pollution from the maritime industry and ports, but now that funding is at risk. ???? People who live near U.S. ports are concerned that the funding will be canceled, and millions of Americans that live around the ports will continue to see poor air quality and health effects, especially frontline and fenceline communities. ???? The story highlights the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach which have some of the worst air pollution in the nation. The South Coast Air Quality Management District said that San Pedro’s emissions have dropped with more reduction efforts, but the pace of emission reductions has slowed. Fern Uennatornwaranggoon shared some of the challenges of cleaning up the ports telling the Associated Press that multiple agencies operate and regulate port activities which makes it difficult to track “how many pieces of equipment are still diesel, how many pieces have been transitioned, how many more we need to go.” Read the full article here: https://bit.ly/4hqwGxu #PortsforPeople #EnvironmentalJustice #ClimateCrisis