Pacific Environment

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

Shipping Moves the World — But At What Cost? ???? ?? FACT: Did you know? Around 80% of global goods are transported by ship. From food to electronics to everyday essentials, the shipping industry moves the world—but it also runs on fossil fuels that harm people and the planet. ?? The problem? Shipping is still heavily dependent on dirty fuels, contributing to climate change and toxic air pollution that disproportionately impacts port communities. ?? The solution? We need to accelerate zero-emissions shipping with clean fuels, shore power, and efficiency measures like wind assist and slow steaming. With 80% of global trade relying on ships, the industry has an opportunity—and a responsibility—to lead on climate action and environmental justice. ?? Let’s push for a future where shipping moves goods, not pollution. Follow along for more key facts this #SingaporeMaritimeWeek. #SingaporeMaritimeWeek #ZeroEmissions #ClimateAction

The Path to Zero-Emissions Shipping ????? Singapore Maritime Week (SMW) is a reminder that the shipping industry is at a crossroads — continue business as usual or take real steps toward decarbonization. ?? The good news? Zero-emissions solutions exist. ?? The challenge? We need stronger policies, investment and accountability. ?? FACT: Shipping spews 1 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide into our atmosphere annually. What’s at stake? ?? Climate change is accelerating — shipping emissions must drop fast to meet global climate goals. ?? Port communities are suffering from toxic pollution — clean fuels & electrification can help. ?? Investing in clean maritime tech is an economic opportunity, not a burden. The industry has no time for delays. We must act now. ?? Follow along as we share key facts & insights this week to elevate the urgency of clean shipping. #SingaporeMaritimeWeek #ZeroEmissions #ClimateAction

The Facts on Shipping & Decarbonization ????? Shipping is the backbone of global trade — but it’s also a major polluter. As we spotlight the industry leading up to Singapore Maritime Week, let’s talk about the urgent need for decarbonization. ?? Did you know? ?? Shipping accounts for ~3% of global greenhouse gas emissions — more than all of Germany. ?? Many vessels run on heavy fuel oil, releasing toxic pollutants that harm portside communities. ?? Solutions like zero-emissions fuels, wind assist and electrification are available — but adoption needs to accelerate. We’ll be sharing key facts on shipping throughout the week to elevate why the industry must move toward cleaner, climate-friendly solutions. ???? It’s time for real action. Follow along and help push for a zero-emissions shipping future! #SingaporeMaritimeWeek #ZeroEmissions #ClimateAction

This #GlobalRecyclingDay, we want to shed some truth on plastic recycling: Less than 10 percent of plastic waste is recycled globally. In the US, that number is even lower with only 5 to 6 percent of U.S. plastics recycled annually. Other materials can be effectively recycled, but plastic, not so much. The other 350 million tons of plastic waste generated each year that doesn’t get recycled? It ends up in landfills, incinerators, ecosystems and in our bodies with increasingly alarming associated health risks. The plastics industry has known that plastic recycling doesn’t work for decades. A 2024 report from the Center for Climate Integrity details the deception, showing that the plastics industry has privately admitted in internal communications since the 1960s that the process is not effective. The plastic pollution crisis is so severe some experts say that it is now on par with the climate crisis. It shows no sign of slowing down, with plastic pollution expected to double by 2030. Recycling alone can’t solve the plastic pollution crisis. Instead, we need to prioritize the “other” R’s: rethink, reduce, reuse, recover & repair. #recycle #ZeroWaste #BreakFreeFromPlastic #ClimateEmergency