Danish-based shipping company Maersk have committed to a carbon neutral ship fleet with complete phasing out of fossil fuels by 2050.

Maersk has been the largest container ship and supply vessel operator in the world since 1996, with around 88,000 employees operating across 130 countries. In 2017 the company’s annual revenue totalled US$35 billion (almost 50 million AUD).

Over the past four years the company has already invested an estimated US$1 billion in reducing their carbon footprint, reducing total carbon emissions by 25%. Since shipping vessels generally have a shelf-life of between 20 and 25 years, Maersk hopes to have all ships replaced with clean energy-powered vessels by 2050.

“The next 5 to 10 years are going to be crucial,” Chief Operating Officer Søren Toft told Good News Network.

“We will invest significant resources for innovation and fleet technology to improve the technical and financial viability of decarbonized solutions. The only possible way to achieve the so-much-needed decarbonization in our industry is by fully transforming to new carbon neutral fuels and supply chains.”

International shipping contributed approximately 1 billion tonnes of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions over the period 2007 to 2012, representing about 3% of total global emissions. The EU has called for a global approach to reducing GHG emissions from shipping, arguing ships’ energy consumption and emissions could be reduced by up to 75% by applying operational measures and implementing existing technologies.

 

Positive Action

• If you are a business-owner looking to decarbonise and reduce your own carbon footprint, check out the range of clean energy solutions offered by Planet Ark Power.
• Stay up to date with the latest in climate change science by following the Climate Council, Australia’s leading climate change communications organisation.

 

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