In an exclusive interview to SAFETY4SEA, Jonathan Butler, Corporate Climate Campaign Manager for Pacific Environment’s Ship It Zero campaign, highlights investment in and commitment to zero-emission technologies as the biggest challenge for the industry’s ESG agenda.
Despite groundbreaking advancements, including the launch of the world’s first zero-emissions tug, ferry, and container ship, the industry still needs stronger leadership and financial backing to scale these solutions. Advocacy groups like Pacific Environment are pushing for policy changes and funding support, but real progress will require bold commitments from corporations and governments alike. Additionally, greater transparency from shipowners—such as sharing their ship efficiency scores and signaling market shifts toward zero emissions—is vital for accelerating the transition to a sustainable maritime future.
SAFETY4SEA: Tell us a few words about Ship It Zero. What is your philosophy for the maritime industry and the top priorities on your agenda for the next 5 years?
Jonathan Butler: Pacific Environment’s Ship It Zero campaign is a climate and public health campaign to move the world’s largest retail and shipping companies to 100% zero-emission ocean shipping by 2030. We urge top corporate polluters, like Amazon, to take immediate steps to reduce their ship pollution, and move their ocean shipping to zero-emission ships by 2030. We’re not alone — shoppers are ready to hold corporations accountable for their ship pollution and climate impacts. Frontline and fenceline communities around the globe continue to pay the price of inaction on fossil fuel pollution and climate change. Retailers must turn the ship around and create a cleaner future for portside communities bearing the brunt of burning fossil fuels. For the next five years, we will continue to highlight the contradictions of corporate polluters, shed light on the toxic impacts fossil fuel pollution is having on our communities, and push these large corporations to achieve zero-emissions shipping.
S4S: What are the biggest ESG/ sustainability challenges the maritime industry faces today, from your perspective?
J.B.: The biggest challenge that the maritime industry faces is investment in, and commitment to, zero-emission technologies. The technology exists: wind and solar assist, vessels that run on green fuels, and more. Last year, the first zero-emissions tug and ferry was launched and, in 2023, Maersk launched the world’s first zero-emissions container ship. The technology is here and there must be greater investment from corporations to bring the maritime industry to full-scale zero-emissions. We need more corporate leadership willing to commit to growing the access to zero-emission technologies and shifting the way we think about reducing emissions. That is why Pacific Environment has been advocating at all levels of government, from local city councils to multinational treaty negotiations for funding and support for maritime shipping decarbonization.
S4S: How do you measure the progress of shipping companies in transitioning to zero-emission technologies?
J.B.: In 2023, we released our first Shipping Decarbonization report card that looked at a number of factors for both shipping carriers and retailers. We reviewed shipping companies’ Corporate Social Governance Reports and press releases to track decarbonization commitments and emissions disclosures. Carriers had more specific benchmarks to meet to receive credit because of their greater relative power to advance shipping decarbonization initiatives. Carriers were given extra credit for absolute emissions reductions and green fuel contracts, but points were deducted for emissions increases and reliance on false solutions like LNG and scrubbers.
S4S: What policy changes at the global level (IMO, national governments) would accelerate the transition to zero-emission shipping?
J.B.: Shipowners and carriers must look at operational avenues to reduce emissions and increase efficiency. Especially for the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) 2030 emissions reduction targets, Carbon Intensity Indicator (CII) and efficiency measures will enable ships to reach those targets as the zero and near-zero fuel supply ramps up. Additionally, the IMO could help in the acceleration of the transition to zero-emissions ships by providing data on the emissions from ships. The data is already available but the IMO would need to share it publicly.
S4S: How can consumers and businesses play a role in pushing for cleaner shipping practices?
J.B.: Businesses can make a commitment to ship it zero by 2030. There are many organizations, like coZEV, ZEMBA, and the World Shipping Council that are moving and assisting businesses to make the transition. Additionally, businesses can help by calling for greater transparency from ship owners by sharing their ship efficiency scores and signaling market change towards zero emissions.
S4S: If the shipping industry does not act fast enough, what are the potential environmental and economic consequences?
J.B.: Just this month, renowned scientist James Hansen said that we are likely overshooting 2 degrees Celsius warming and that some global tipping points are likely imminent because our planet might be even more sensitive to greenhouse gases than scientists predicted. We will see a cascading series of global tipping points, from collapsing ice sheets to catastrophic sea-level rise if we don’t meet the climate crisis head-on. In just the last six months, Hurricane Helene ravaged the Big Bend area of Florida (the third hurricane to hit that region in just a little over a year) killing 250 people and a destructive wildfire in Los Angeles fueled by climate change killed 29 people; combined, these natural disasters are estimated to have caused hundreds of billions of dollars in damages. Meanwhile, shipping giant Maersk had a fantastic 4th quarter profits in 2024 and expects industry growth this year despite President Trump’s misguided tariff policies. The industry has the money to transform itself and set itself on an immediate trajectory to align shipping with the U.N.’s climate goals, but continues to put profits over people.
S4S: How could industry stakeholders best collaborate in support of sustainable development? How are you fostering collaboration and knowledge towards?
J.B.: Pacific Environment works at the state and local level, federal level and international level to encourage the adoption of zero-emission policies. We are one of a handful of NGOs with consultative status at the IMO where we are actively engaged with international negotiators, stakeholders and policymakers. We also work closely with the ports to assist in moving to zero-emissions at the port level. Lastly, we work internationally to bring together U.S. and international decision makers to build relationships, move towards adopting green corridors and exchanging ideas for implementation of decarbonization.
S4S: Do you believe the maritime industry is moving in the right direction? What do you see as the defining ESG/sustainability trends driving maritime toward the future?
J.B.: Unfortunately, we found in our 2023 Decarbonization report cards that most retailers and shipping carriers were not taking the necessary action to decarbonize their shipping in response to the urgency of the climate crisis and the harmful impact on port communities. Even when we did a progress report in 2024 evaluating where retailers were on their zero emission goals, most remained stagnant. Many retailers and carriers have only committed to carbon neutrality by 2050, too long a timeframe to avoid catastrophe. Carriers specifically continue to rely on false solutions like liquefied natural gas (LNG) and scrubbers. While development of alternative low-emission fuels is increasing, far more investment from the industry is needed to reach zero emissions by 2030.
S4S: If you could change one thing in the industry from your perspective what would it be and why?
J.B.: If we could change one thing in the industry, it would be transparency of ship owners by sharing their ship efficiency scores. As the saying goes, “If you can’t measure it, you can’t improve it.” We agree, and call upon ship owners and the IMO to be more forthright so we can make better informed decisions to truly meet the biggest challenge of our time: climate change.
S4S: What is your key message to maritime stakeholders for a more sustainable future for the industry?
J.B.: The maritime industry must make changes in order to provide a major impact on many stakeholders around the world, including port workers, frontline and fenceline communities and maritime workers. At least 31 million people live within 5,000 meters of major ports in the contiguous U.S., and the maritime industry has an outsized impact on these communities – including the health of the people, their waters, climate and communities. Burning heavy fuel oils is not sustainable or for the people that are impacted by it. It is past time for the maritime industry to address heavy fuel oil usage and transition to zero-emissions and that time is now.
The views presented are only those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of SAFETY4SEA and are for information sharing and discussion purposes only.
