Maritime Shipping Causes More Damage to the Environment than Airplanes
Greenhouse
More than 10 billion metric tons of cargo, including clothing, electronics, and oil, are transported each year by ships.
About 3% of global greenhouse gas emissions can be attributed to maritime shipping; this is more than air travel.
The U.N. agency had set a goal of reducing global shipping’s carbon emissions to one-half of 2008 levels back in 2018.
The International Council on Clean Transportations Bryan Comer feels that little has been accomplished so far.
Several emerging technologies—including hydrogen fuel cells—could reduce ship emissions dramatically. However, these tools are very expensive and used only by select groups. Now is the time to consider cleaner fuels, Comer believes.
In other words, to motivate the shipping industry to invest in cleaner technologies, we will need policies and enforceable standards.
