Can shipping fix its climate problem?

It's estimated that 9 out of 10 items sold in our shops are
shipped halfway around the world on ships. The resulting
emissions amount to around 3% of the global total, more than many
countries, but we rarely hear about the role shipping plays in
the climate crisis.


Partly this is because most of shipping's pollution occurs far
out at sea, out of the sights and minds of many consumers - and
largely out of the reach of regulation. Like aviation, ships
travel across borders, so their emissions are not attributable to
any one country.


There's no simple fix to shipping's climate problem. Currently
most ships use one of the dirtiest forms of fossil fuels, known
as 'bunker fuel' - because it's plentiful and cheap. And they use
a lot of it - 300 million tonnes per year. But there are
alternatives out there. Hydrogen, sustainable bio-fuels - even
wind power - are all possible, so why aren't they already being
used? What will it take to turn the shipping industry around?


Contributors: Alan McKinnon, Professor of Logistics at Kuehne
Logistics University, Hamburg Camille Bourgeon, International
Maritime Organisation Diane Gilpin, CEO of Smart Green Shipping
Faig Abbasov, Shipping Programme Director at Transport and
Environment


Presenters: Neal Razzell and Graihagh Jackson Reporter: Lotte von
Gaalen Producer: Zoe Gelber Series producer: Rosamund Jones
Editor: Emma Rippon