Pacific Environment
Pacific Environment is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1980 that protects Pacific Rim communities, ecosystems, and wildlife by leading 50+ coalitions and 100+ partner campaigns on shipping decarbonization, plastics, ocean conservation, and Arctic protection.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1980
- HeadquartersSan Francisco, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Pacific Environment does
Pacific Environment is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit environmental advocacy organization founded in 1980 as the Golden Gate Energy Center by Armin Rosencranz, renamed to Pacific Environment in 1993, and headquartered at 1012 Torney Ave, San Francisco, California. The organization operates across the Pacific Rim with staff embedded in China (including a Regional Representative Chongqing Office), Japan, Malaysia, the Philippines, the Republic of Korea, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, and the United States. Its programmatic work spans four areas: Climate Solutions (maritime shipping decarbonization and renewable energy), Plastics Reduction, Ocean Conservation, and Arctic Protection, supported by branded campaigns including Ship It Zero and Ports for People.
The organization's model is coalition-based rather than technology-based. Pacific Environment leads or plays a leadership role in more than 50 coalitions and works with more than 100 partner organizations, connecting grassroots movements to international policy venues. It holds special observer status at the United Nations International Maritime Organization and has secured measurable outcomes including stronger environmental and social safeguards on more than $130 billion in global development funding (2014), protection of millions of hectares of old-growth forest, and proposals to safeguard over 3.2 million hectares of Philippine waters. The organization does not maintain a proprietary technology platform; its core infrastructure runs on Bonterra EveryAction for donor management, email, and petitions, and its evidence base is delivered through research publications such as the 'On thin ice' black carbon report (July 2025) and the 'Ports Playbook for Zero-Emission Shipping.'
Pacific Environment's revenue model is foundation-dominated, with more than 90% of funding coming from foundations. Supplementary revenue streams include individual donations (one-time, monthly recurring, and annual tiers ranging from $10 to $500), corporate business sponsorships, and donor-advised fund contributions. It is governed by a Board of Directors chaired by Peter Riggs and led operationally by Executive Director Shannon Wright, supported by senior directors across each program area and country directors across Asia. The organization is privately held as a tax-exempt nonprofit (Tax-ID 94-2628924) with no parent company, no subsidiaries, and no venture capital or private equity ownership.
Pacific Environment firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Pacific Environment
- Legal name
- Pacific Environment
- Website
- https://pacificenvironment.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1980
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Pacific Environment is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1980 that protects Pacific Rim communities, ecosystems, and wildlife by leading 50+ coalitions and 100+ partner campaigns on shipping decarbonization, plastics, ocean conservation, and Arctic protection.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Pacific Environment industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Environmental Advocacy Services
- NAICS
- Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312)
- SIC
- Services-Membership Organizations (8600)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Climate Change Mitigation & Adaptation (BPAGAGAF)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Marine & Freshwater Conservation (BPAGAGAE), Environmental Justice & Community Environmental Health (BPAGAGAL)
Keywords
Where Pacific Environment is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- San Francisco
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Pacific Environment business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Foundation funding: More than 90% of funding comes from foundations. Pacific Environment has a structured program combining foundation funding, leadership training, and long-term support for local environmental groups. This is a rare model of grassroots investment.
- Individual donations: Individual donors contribute through one-time donations, monthly recurring donations, or annual giving. Donation options range from $10 to $500.
- Business sponsorships: Corporate partners sponsor Pacific Environment's work, receiving brand visibility, expert insights, public recognition, insider access, and event invitations based on sponsorship level.
- Donor-Advised Funds (DAFs): Donors can contribute through DAFs, IRAs, or stock donations, which provide tax benefits while supporting environmental work.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | One-time | One-time donation options |
| Subscription | Monthly | Monthly recurring donation options |
| Subscription | Annual | Annual recurring donation options |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels7 records
Pacific Environment product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Pacific Environment is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit environmental advocacy organization that protects communities, ecosystems, and wildlife of the Pacific Rim. It delivers this mission through five thematic programs (Climate Solutions, Plastics Reduction, Ocean Conservation, Arctic Protection) and coalition campaigns (Ports for People, Ship It Zero), combining grassroots organizing, coalition building, evidence-based research, and policy advocacy at local, national, and international levels.
Product overview
Pacific Environment is a nonprofit environmental advocacy organization offering a suite of campaign initiatives and programs rather than a commercial product platform. The organization's offerings include advocacy campaigns (Ports for People, Ship It Zero), thematic programs (Ocean Conservation, Plastics Reduction, Climate Solutions, Arctic Protection), and policy-focused initiatives supporting sustainable shipping, renewable energy, zero-waste solutions, and marine protected areas across the Pacific Rim. These programs work through grassroots organizing, coalition building, corporate accountability, innovative research and policy advocacy, and transformative solutions to drive environmental change.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Ports for People: Initiative focused on transforming port infrastructure and operations to reduce pollution and emissions from maritime shipping.
- Ship It Zero
Products and services
- Ports for People A coalition campaign focused on transforming port operations and reducing air and water pollution from fossil fuel-powered ships and port equipment in U.S. port cities.
- Ship It Zero A campaign initiative that pushes major retailers and shipping companies to commit to zero-emission shipping and adopt zero-emission technologies by 2030.
- Ocean Conservation Program Program focused on preserving marine biodiversity through community-led marine protected areas, coastal community support, and marine wildlife protection across the Pacific Rim.
- Plastics Reduction Program Program focused on reducing plastic production by 75% and phasing out single-use plastics by 2040, including zero-waste solutions and Global Plastics Treaty advocacy.
- Arctic Protection Program Program focused on protecting Arctic waters from fossil fuel expansion, increased shipping traffic, and black carbon pollution through cleaner fuels advocacy and Indigenous community partnerships.
- Climate Solutions Program Program focused on decarbonizing maritime shipping through zero-emission fuels, port electrification, renewable energy support including offshore wind, and policy advocacy at the International Maritime Organization.
Quantifiable outcome
- Secured $130 billion in environmental and social safeguards for global development funding
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Pacific Environment
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Pacific Environment technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Pacific Environment partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Ship It Zero Coalition MemberscoreShip It Zero is an initiative led by Pacific Environment that pushes companies in the global maritime industry to commit to zero-emission shipping by 2030. Coalition includes activists, environmental groups, and communities.
- Ulsan Port AuthoritycorePacific Environment and Ulsan Port Authority signed an MOU to accelerate zero-emission shipping and ports between the US and Republic of Korea. This partnership supports the country's transition to renewable energy by promoting offshore wind development and zero-emission shipping.
- Clean Arctic AlliancecorePacific Environment and the Clean Arctic Alliance co-produced the report 'On thin ice: Why black carbon demands urgent action' in July 2025. The report outlines the dangers of black carbon to the Arctic environment and its people.
- Bonterra EveryActioncorePacific Environment uses Bonterra EveryAction as their secure third-party vendor to collect and store personal information, process donations, manage online petitions, and send email updates. All personal information is stored on a secure server with password protection.
- Coastal Sustainability AllianceminorPacific Environment applauds the Coastal Sustainability Alliance 'Milk-Run' proof of concept in Singapore, supporting sustainable maritime practices.
- Ocean ConservancycorePacific Environment works with Ocean Conservancy on policy advocacy. Ocean Conservancy's senior U.S. policy manager for climate endorsed the Next Generation Shipping Act alongside Pacific Environment.
- Ports for People CoalitioncoreCoalition focused on transforming the shipping industry and reducing harmful pollution at its source. Collaborates with frontline communities, ports, industry, labor unions, and environmental justice advocates.
- 350 SacramentominorEndorsed the Next Generation Shipping Act as part of broader climate coalition.
- Friends of the EarthminorInternational environmental organization that endorsed the Next Generation Shipping Act.
- Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC)coreMajor environmental advocacy organization that endorsed the Next Generation Shipping Act.
- Sierra ClubcoreMajor environmental organization that endorsed the Next Generation Shipping Act.
- Marine Engineers Beneficial AssociationminorLabor union that endorsed the Next Generation Shipping Act.
- UC BerkeleyminorUC Berkeley produced analysis highlighting Japan's port decarbonization leadership, which was shared through Pacific Environment.
- ABBminorTechnology company that endorsed the Next Generation Shipping Act as an industry partner.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Pacific Environment competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Environmental Defense Fund (EDF): Large, well-resourced US environmental advocacy group with significant shipping decarbonization, climate, and oceans programs. EDF's portfolio breadth and corporate partnerships put it in direct competition with Pacific Environment for shipping industry accountability campaigns and foundation funding.
- Greenpeace: Global environmental advocacy organization with extensive Pacific Rim presence, climate, oceans, and plastics campaigns that overlap with Pacific Environment's portfolio. Greenpeace's much larger international footprint makes it a more visible brand competitor for donor attention in shared issue areas.
- World Wildlife Fund (WWF): Global conservation organization with major oceans, climate, and wildlife programs across the Pacific Rim. WWF's brand and scale make it a primary competitor for foundation grants and corporate partnerships, even though its conservation approach is broader and less advocacy-driven than Pacific Environment's.
Direct peers
- Ocean Conservancy: Ocean-focused environmental nonprofit that Pacific Environment works with on shipping decarbonization policy. Ocean Conservancy's marine debris and shipping portfolios directly mirror Pacific Environment's Ocean Conservation and Ship It Zero programs, making it a closely aligned advocacy partner.
- Earthjustice: Public interest environmental law organization that litigates on climate, oceans, and clean energy issues overlapping with Pacific Environment's advocacy focus. Earthjustice's litigation-driven model complements Pacific Environment's grassroots-policy approach, making it a closely aligned peer for donors prioritizing high-impact environmental outcomes.
- Sierra Club: One of the largest US environmental organizations, also a Next Generation Shipping Act endorser. Sierra Club's climate and clean energy programs overlap directly with Pacific Environment's Climate Solutions work, making it a coalition ally and a competing destination for foundation and individual giving.
- 350.org: Grassroots climate movement organization focused on fossil fuel phase-out and renewable energy. 350 Sacramento is a confirmed Pacific Environment coalition partner, and 350.org's Pacific Rim organizing work overlaps directly with Pacific Environment's Climate Solutions and renewable energy programs.
- Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC): Major US-based environmental advocacy nonprofit that co-endorses the Next Generation Shipping Act with Pacific Environment. NRDC operates across climate, oceans, and clean energy advocacy with a much larger budget, serving as both a coalition partner and direct competitor for donor dollars and policy influence.
- Friends of the Earth: International environmental advocacy organization that endorsed the Next Generation Shipping Act alongside Pacific Environment. Friends of the Earth operates in overlapping climate, oceans, and corporate accountability spaces, with comparable grassroots-to-global advocacy models.
- Clean Arctic Alliance: Coalition of nonprofits focused on Arctic protection, co-producer of the 'On thin ice' black carbon report with Pacific Environment. The Clean Arctic Alliance is a direct peer in the Arctic Protection program area, sharing advocacy goals around black carbon reduction and shipping emissions.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Pacific Environment social profiles
Digital presencePacific Environment financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Pacific Environment leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles19 records
Pacific Environment funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Pacific Environment M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Pacific Environment
What does Pacific Environment do?
Pacific Environment is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit environmental advocacy organization that protects communities, ecosystems, and wildlife of the Pacific Rim. It delivers this mission through five thematic programs (Climate Solutions, Plastics Reduction, Ocean Conservation, Arctic Protection) and coalition campaigns (Ports for People, Ship It Zero), combining grassroots organizing, coalition building, evidence-based research, and policy advocacy at local, national, and international levels.
Is Pacific Environment a public or private company?
Pacific Environment is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Pacific Environment founded?
Pacific Environment was founded in 1980. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Pacific Environment based?
Pacific Environment is headquartered in San Francisco, United States, in the North America region.
How does Pacific Environment make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Foundation funding is the primary driver. The others are individual donations, business sponsorships and donor-Advised Funds (DAFs).
Who are Pacific Environment's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), Greenpeace and World Wildlife Fund (WWF). Direct peers are Ocean Conservancy, Earthjustice, Sierra Club, 350.org, Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), Friends of the Earth and Clean Arctic Alliance.
Does Pacific Environment have an API?
No public API is recorded for Pacific Environment.
What industry is Pacific Environment in?
Pacific Environment's product category is Environmental Advocacy Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAGAF, Climate Change Mitigation & Adaptation, with a secondary code of BPAGAGAE, Marine & Freshwater Conservation. Its NAICS code is 813312 and its SIC code is 8600.