The Ship It Zero coalition made up of climate, environmental justice, public health, and faith groups is requesting a meeting with Target to discuss the big box retailer’s health-harming pollution practices from its ocean cargo imports. In an open letter to Brian Cornell, CEO of Target, the coalition is holding the retailer accountable for its “outsized role in the port congestion crisis” resulting in an increase in air pollution.
While many retail brands are “taking steps to reduce and eliminate the air and climate pollution from the maritime shipping in their supply chains,” according to the open letter, Ship It Zero is encouraging Target to lead the way.
“Target can catalyze significant change in the shipping sector by leveraging your power as a heavyweight in the retail sector and a major cargo carrier client. If your company were to urgently commit to zero emissions maritime shipping on an ambitious timeframe, it would send a clear market signal to carriers—those that own and operate container vessels—to accelerate their transition to fossil-free, zero emissions cargo ships in order to meet this growing demand.”
Research proves that cargo ships burn huge volumes of fossil fuel that spews carbon dioxide, sulphur dioxide, nitrous oxide, black carbon and chemicals that cause cancer, pollute the ocean and increase air pollution in port communities, according to Ship It Zero.
From the coalition’s website, Ship It Zero is asking Target to publicly commit to:
- End Port Pollution Now: Use clean energy and electrification in major ports.
- Abandon Dirty Ships: Stop moving products on fossil-fueled ships.
- Put Zero at the Helm: Commit to 100% zero-emission shipping by 2030.
“We urge you to be the climate and public health champion that port and coastal communities need by committing to immediately reduce and completely eliminate maritime emissions this decade. We offer an invitation for you to meet with us here in Southern California to discuss your company’s plans for immediate maritime decarbonization.”
To read the open letter in it’s entirety, click here. https://shipitzero.org/los-angeles-long-beach-coalition-letter/
COMMENTS