Global Shipping Is under Pressure to Stop Its Heavy Fuel Oil Use Fast—That’s Not Simple, but Changes Are Coming, states a news UTK source.
Driver of climate change
Most of the clothing and gadgets you buy in stores today were once in shipping containers, sailing across the ocean. Ships carry over 80% of the world’s traded goods. But they have a problem – the majority of them burn heavy sulfur fuel oil, which is a driver of climate change.
While cargo ships’ engines have become more efficient over time, the industry is under growing pressure to eliminate its carbon footprint.
80% drop in shipping fuels’ greenhouse gas intensity by 2050
The European Union Parliament this year voted to require an 80% drop in shipping fuels’ greenhouse gas intensity by 2050 and to require shipping lines to pay for the greenhouse gases their ships release. The International Maritime Organization, the United Nations agency that regulates international shipping, also plans to strengthen its climate strategy this summer. The IMO’s current goal is to cut shipping emissions 50% by 2050. President Joe Biden said on April 20 that the U.S. will push for a new international goal of zero emissions by 2050 instead.
The Conversation asked Don Maier, an associate professor of practice in supply chain management who researches the maritime industry, if the industry can meet those tougher targets. Read the full article on The Conversation.
UT is a member of The Conversation, an independent source for news articles and informed analysis written by the academic community and edited by journalists for the general public. Through our partnership, we seek to provide a better understanding of the important work of our faculty.
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Source: News Utk
