Did you know that in addition to fueling climate change, toxic fumes from ships are also a danger to our ocean, marine wildlife and public health? In the U.S. alone, 39 million people live near ports, where poor air quality from ships can lead to respiratory diseases.
While there has been unprecedented federal funding to decarbonize ports, the same can’t be said for the ships themselves. Fortunately, the Zero-Emission Vessel Innovation Act (ZEVIA) would revolutionize the shipping industry by providing critical funding to support the research, development, demonstration and deployment of zero-emission vessels and the retrofit or replacement of existing vessels with zero-emission technologies and charging or fueling infrastructure.
We are one step closer to creating a future with clean air for all. But we must act fast—the climate crisis and shipping pollution aren’t slowing down. Don’t wait: Tell Congress to clean up the shipping industry.