Beyond fuel: the case for a wider perspective on shipping and climate change
28 January 2025
A new perspective analysis by Simon Bullock, Alice Larkin and Jonathan Kohler published in Climate Policy, on climate priorities for the international shipping sector.
The article argues that the current dominant discourse in shipping and climate is overly focussed on long-term targets and low carbon fuels. For the sector to be Paris Agreement compliant, this focus needs to shift to actions pre 2030, and onto behavioural and energy efficiency measures. 3 recommendations are set out: First, industry stakeholder climate strategies should focus on cumulative emissions, not 2050 targets. Second, new ship design should focus on ultra-efficient vessels using wind-assist, batteries and fuel cells. Third, a policy priority is reform of the IMO's carbon intensity indicator. Joint work with Fraunhofer Institute Germany. This research is being fed into the IMO's ongoing policy process for reform of short-term measures on climate mitigation.
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