The world’s shipping industry is responsible for just under 3% of global CO2 emissions, which is equivalent to the total emissions produced by Germany. According to projections by the International Maritime Organization (IMO), this share of global emissions could increase by between 50% and 250% by 2050, depending on which scenario is used for modelling.[1]
The IMO is seeking to reduce the production of local pollutants. Since 2020, the sulphur content of marine fuels has been limited to 0.50%, compared with 3.50% previously. However, the shipping sector still accounts for 15% of global emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOx), even though low-emission zones have been set up. In fact, the global shipping fleet remains dependent on heavy fuel oils, derived from refinery by-products, to power ships’ diesel engines (which also emit local pollutants, both nitrogen oxides and sulphur dioxide).
The shipping industry is seeking to decarbonise its operations as quickly as possible, in response to several forms of pressure: the urgent need to respond to climate change, the will of governments who have subscribed to the 2015 Paris agreements, and the demands of public opinion, which is becoming increasingly critical about the effects of globalisation. Indeed, the industry’s very existence is at stake. The IMO, which had set itself the target of reducing CO2 emissions by 50% by 2050, strengthened this target at the beginning of July 2023 so that it now faces the more challenging goal of achieving net-zero emissions by this same date. It is possible to