11/08/2021 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 11/08/2021 07:53
(Washington D.C., 8 November 2021)-Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), the leading voice of the global cruise industry, released today the CLIA Global Cruise Industry Environmental Technologies and Practices Inventory and associated Environmental Report produced by Oxford Economics (OE). The report, which demonstrates the industry's commitment to responsible tourism practices and continued progress on the development and implementation of new environmental technologies, is published as CLIA ocean-going members commit to pursue net carbon neutral cruising by 2050.
"While cruise has been one of the sectors most acutely impacted by the global pandemic, cruise lines remain at the forefront of the challenge to develop new environmental technologies which benefit the entire shipping industry," said Kelly Craighead, president and CEO of Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA). "Our industry is committed to pursuing net carbon neutral cruising by 2050, and CLIA and our ocean-going members are investing in new technologies and cleaner fuels now to realise this ambition."
For the first time, the OE Environmental Report also addresses the challenge posed by the need for new, alternative fuels and the steps the industry is taking to support progress. Specifically, in addition to LNG, over three-quarters of the global cruise fleet by passenger capacity is now equipped to use alternative fuels.
Alternative fuel sources to heavy fuel oils being developed include biodiesel, methanol, ammonia, hydrogen, and electric batteries. The report notes that there remain engineering, supply, and regulatory hurdles before the large-scale adoption of such fuels can take place, but the cruise industry's growing investment in new ships is facilitating the research and development of these fuels.
"This report shows that the cruise industry is resilient, innovative and focused on the future" said Pierfrancesco Vago, Chairman of CLIA Global. "We know that there is more to be done but the cruise industry has shown both its commitment and its capability to rise to the challenge. The cruise industry is an enabler of green maritime innovation, which will be the key to decarbonization of shipping. This is why CLIA has joined other maritime organisations to propose a $5 billion IMO research and development fund to accelerate the development of zero GHG fuels and propulsion technologies."
The report notes that CLIA ocean-going cruise lines continue to make substantial progress across a range of areas:
CLIA member cruise lines have committed to a 40% reduction in the rate of carbon emissions across the global fleet by 2030, compared to 2008, consistent with the International Maritime Organization's (IMO) carbon intensity reduction level of ambition.
For more information, please visit https://cruising.org/en/environmental-sustainability.