How the Maritime Industry is Helping in the Fight Against Climate Change
By Jonathan Kaskin
The United Nations released the UN Climate Change Summary Report for Policy Makers this week, a study that focuses on the dire consequences of climate change but also provides recommendations to counter its effects.
The report concluded that there is no doubt that humans have affected the climate in a negative way and that human activities have warmed the atmosphere, ocean, and land. In the report, the assessment is made that the scale on which the climate is currently changing is unprecedented, given historical evidence over thousands of years. The report also stated that since the UN’s fifth Assessment report that was published in 2014, “there is evidence of observed changes in extremes such as heatwaves, heavy precipitation, droughts, and tropical cyclones, and, in particular, their attribution to human influence, has strengthened.”
The study finds that global warming of 1.5°C and 2°C will rise throughout the 21st century unless there is a drastic change in greenhouse gases being emitted into the atmosphere. It also finds that there has been an increase in the frequency of climate change-related events including heatwaves, droughts, cyclones, loss of Arctic Sea ice, and other intense climatic events. The global water cycle is projected to intensify, increasing the likelihood of severe weather events.
The UN recommends that strong reductions in greenhouse gas emissions need to be achieved to reduce the likelihood of severe weather events destabilizing regions. Such reductions would improve air quality and would limit the effects of climate change.
These findings should make all of us very concerned, but we should also note that the Navy League’s advocacy for Jones Act ships, new naval technology, and improvements to America’s Marine Transportation System, all have positive impacts on reducing the release of greenhouse gases. Here are just three examples of how our work helps the environment and reduces C02 emissions:
Offshore Wind Energy-
Offshore wind farms are set to expand exponentially in the coming years and they will require Jones Act compliant ships to transport and install the turbines. Luckily, we have been advocating for the shipyard capacity and Jones Act industrial base necessary to kickstart this critical endeavor. The Revolution Wind project is scheduled to begin construction in 2023 and could power up to 350,000 households in Connecticut and Rhode Island. There is a similar project slated to being in 2024 in New York called the Sunrise Wind project and could power nearly 600,000 homes in New York.[1] President Biden’s goal for the US to reach 30GW of offshore wind power compared to its current 42MW by 2030 can spark vast industry growth and new job potential within the United States while also reducing greenhouse gases.
Potential for Biofuel Ships-
Biofuel energy is energy derived from agricultural biomass and food waste. Shipbuilding group Fincantieri is creating a ship for the Italian Navy that can use fossil fuels, biofuel, or other fuels to operate.[2] Military ships are typically not the focus of global climate change initiatives, as most regulations are focusing on civilian ships. However, with military ships using more and more energy for weapon systems as they continue to advance, there is a need to find more fuel sources for the ships. We are working to ensure that the U.S. Navy has the R&D budget necessary to pursue similar initiatives.
Moving Goods by Water vs. Land-
The movement of goods through shipping on the waters creates less CO2 emissions when compared to transporting on the land. Shipping accounts for 90% of the world’s trade, but only 3% of the world’s greenhouse-gas emissions.[4] Investment into the shipping industries’ green initiatives will only lower that percentage of greenhouse-gas emissions over time. In a 2019 Forbes article, there is a study into shipping’s footprint and the author found that “Pound for pound, water transport is by far the most environmentally friendly way to move goods.” [5] There is always room for environmental improvement, but shipping poses the best chance for reduction of emissions from trade. This is why we advocate for improvements and investments in America’s Marine Transportation System.
[1] Michelle Lewis, “The US Gets a Game-Changing Offshore Wind Farm Installation Vessel,” Electrek, June 1, 2021, https://electrek.co/2021/06/01/the-us-gets-a-game-changing-offshore-wind-farm-installation-vessel/.
[2] Tom Kington, “Fincantieri Eyes Biofuels to Power Future Warships,” Defense News, August 9, 2021, https://www.defensenews.com/smr/energy-and-environment/2021/08/09/fincantieri-eyes-biofuels-to-power-future-warships/.
[3] Jim Wilson, “Marine Biofuels Begin to Make Headway in Ocean Shipping,” FreightWaves, March 25, 2019, https://www.freightwaves.com/news/maritime/imo2020-lowsulfurfuel-biofuel-trials.
[4] “Green Finance for Dirty Ships,” The Economist, March 11, 2017, https://www.economist.com/finance-and-economics/2017/03/11/green-finance-for-dirty-ships.
[5] “Maritime’s Next Wave: An Ancient Industry’s Bold New Thinking” (Forbes Magazine, August 11, 2021), https://www.forbes.com/sites/abb/2019/12/19/maritimes-next-wave-an-ancient-industrys-bold-new-thinking/?sh=26ba0f16552d.