If the international shipping industry were a country, it would be among the world’s top carbon-emitting nations. Meanwhile, greenhouse gas emissions from ships are projected to increase by up to 50% by 2050. 

In addition to the shipping industry’s climate impact, the sector also contributes to air pollution that harms the health of people living in port communities and coastal cities.  

To reduce these harmful emissions, a well-designed, global market-based measure could spur innovation and create incentives for action. Our partners at the Getting to Zero Coalition produced an overview of the policy options to make zero-emission fuels and technology more competitive. They found that a policy package – including a market-based measure, fuel mandates and national efforts – could enable an effective and equitable transition.  

The shipping sector is at the cusp of a dramatic fuel and technological shift that could slash climate and air pollution. One of the most promising solutions for the industry is to invest in and use cleaner alternative fuels.  

We are producing collaborative research that examines which alternative fuels are most promising for the shipping industry, as well as how countries can take advantage of the economic opportunity. We also looked at the International Civil Aviation Organization’s Sustainable Aviation Fuels frameworks and its applicability for the shipping sector.  

The shipping sector needs to look beyond carbon and take into account other greenhouse gases. Methane has more than 80 times the warming power of carbon dioxide over the first 20 years after it reaches the atmosphere. At least 25% of today’s climate impact is driven by methane from human activity. We are working to increase awareness of the importance of reducing and eliminating methane emissions, particularly from liquified natural gas (LNG). In addition to methane slip from ships, there may be harmful methane leaks that occur during extraction of natural gas, processing, and throughout the supply chain.