The shipping industry is responsible for nearly 3% of the world’s total greenhouse gas emissions, and its share is expected to rise as maritime trade volumes triple by 2050. To address this, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) has set a target to halve its greenhouse gas emissions by midcentury, and more ambitious targets are being considered this year. To meet these targets, significant changes will be required in vessel and infrastructure design. One approach being considered is the creation of “green shipping corridors” along major routes, where new technologies and methods can be fast-tracked and scaled up.
The Emergence of Green Shipping Corridors
More than 20 partnerships have been proposed for green shipping corridors, bringing together marine fuel producers, vessel owners and operators, cargo owners, and ports in a common effort. The goal is to create a zero-emissions supply chain from factory to port to consumer. Partnerships have been formed between Los Angeles and Shanghai, Los Angeles and Long Beach, and Singapore, with many more in the works, including the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River and a Chilean network. C40 Cities, a global climate action coalition of mayors, has advocated for green corridors as “tools that can turn ambition into action.”
The Path to Decarbonization
The shipping industry must find alternatives to “bunker fuel,” which powers most commercial ships and spews greenhouse gases and pollutants. Liquid natural gas (LNG) is currently the most widely used alternative, but many environmentalists oppose it because it emits methane, another potent greenhouse gas. Companies producing the fuels want enough ships using them to guarantee strong markets, and both need port infrastructure that accommodates new-generation ships. Switching to zero-emission models of cargo handling equipment and trucks will be expensive, but some companies, like Amazon and Target, have pledged to use only zero-emission shipping companies by 2040.
While there is optimism that the industry will deliver zero emissions by 2050, there is also skepticism about the ability of green shipping corridors to become practice. These corridors will require a cultural shift in thinking about how goods are transported, and government regulation and corridor funding, along with support from shipping industry customers, will be necessary for success. However, new approaches developed in green corridors could bring fast results, and the partnerships being formed for these corridors represent a significant step in the shipping industry’s journey toward decarbonization.
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