Following CMA CGM’s decision on not sailing in the Northwest Passage for environmental reasons, Hapag Lloyd joins the French company arguing that the particles produced by the combustion of carbon-based fossils and fuels contribute to global warming, which can in turn harm our ecosystems. Therefore, Hapag Lloyd will decline sailing neither through the Northwest Passage nor the Northeast Passage.
Specifically, Jörg Erdmann, Senior Director Sustainability at Hapag-Lloyd argues that although NSR provides shorter voyage time and distances between Asia and Europe, the environmental impact of the lines large scale use by commercial shipping is still controversial.
Erdmann commented that
As long as there are no guarantees that these passages can be navigated without negatively impacting the environment, using them is out of the question for Hapag-Lloyd.
Moreover, asked about the ice-free conditions in NSR through summer because of the global warming, Erdmann added that the use of these passages should be carefully consider from both environmental and economic perspectives.
Recently, concerning the harmful effects in the NSR, Arctic Circle commented that although the route has experienced an increased economic growth the last years, it affects population, as many are those who are moving out.
