Climate Action

Shipping must contribute to reducing greenhouse gas emissions in both the short and the long term, and global regulation through the IMO will play a key role. The IMO’s 2030 target, a 40% efficiency gain, can be met with efficiency improvements. The carbon reductions required by the IMO target of reducing total emissions from international shipping by at least 50% by 2050 compared to 2008, will only come from identifying and developing new zero-carbon technologies so that commercially viable zero carbon ships can begin to operate in the 2030’s.

Reducing Air Emissions

Together with our members, we lead the call for stringent international standards controlling air emissions from ships. Recent important developments where WSC has contributed include the IMO 2020 reduction of the cap on sulphur emissions from ships on the high seas from 3.5% to 0.5%, and the introduction of regional Emission Control Areas (ECA zones) limiting sulphur and NOx emissions from ships in specific geographic areas of the world. The decarbonization of the industry should also serve to reduce and eventually eliminate NOx, SOx, and PM emissions as the industry moves away from carbon fuels.

Stopping Invasive Species

The movement of containers and their cargoes can facilitate the introduction and spread of invasive pests to communities around the world, posing a serious risk to agriculture, forestry and natural resources. Container flows are complex and involve multiple border crossings, multiple modes of transport and handovers of control between actors. Everyone in the supply chain must work together to stop the transfer of pests.