WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Representatives Doris Matsui (D-CA-07) and Kevin Mullin (D-CA-15) introduced the International Maritime Pollution Accountability Act in the House of Representatives. Ocean Conservancy endorsed the legislation when it was first introduced in the Senate by Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Alex Padilla (D-CA) on World Oceans Day in June 2023 and has continually worked with Members of Congress to refine the scope and language of the bill. Delaine McCullough, Ocean Conservancy’s shipping emissions campaign manager, issued the following statement in response to the bill’s introduction in the House:

“The maritime shipping industry moves most of our ‘stuff’ around the world: up to 90% of all freight moves by sea. Unfortunately, the ships that we rely on to move these goods across the world also spew out pollution that heats the climate, harms the health of communities, and threatens our ocean. In total, the global shipping industry emits around one billion metric tons of greenhouse gases each year, and these emissions have been estimated to cause 250,000 premature deaths and six million childhood asthma cases annually.

“To fund the clean shipping transition, the U.S. must invest in electrifying ports, developing alternative shipping fuels, and eliminating air pollution; but none of this will be possible without adequate funding.  

“The International Maritime Pollution Accountability Act would charge a fee to the shipping industry for polluting our ocean, harming the health of port communities, and contributing to climate change, allowing us to fund these priorities to clean up the industry. Ocean Conservancy is grateful for the leadership of Representatives Matsui and Mullin for their work on this critical issue. For the health of our ocean and our communities, we urge Congress to pass this common sense, critical legislation.”

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