THE ENVIRONMENTAL CRISIS
The concentration of carbon dioxide in the Earth's atmosphere is nearly 412 parts per million (ppm) - a 47% increase since the beginning of the industrial revolution
THE GREENHOUSE EFFECT
Carbon dioxide, along with other greenhouse gases, create the greenhouse effect in the Earth’s atmosphere. The gases trap heat inside the atmosphere in the form of infrared radiation. As a result, there was an increase in global temperatures of about 1℃ since 1900.
Rising Sea Levels
Due to the rising temperatures, sea water started to expand thermally and glaciers have started to melt, causing an overall increase in sea levels. By 2050, the average sea level rise will be 4 to 8 inches along the pacific, 10 to 14 inches along the Atlantic, and 14 to 18 inches along the Gulf of Mexico.
Climate Change
A long-term shift in weather patterns have been caused by our emissions. Warmer sea surface temperatures could intensify tropical storms. The increase in global temperatures have also disrupted the water cycle, causing frequent droughts and extreme floods.
WHAT WE NEED TO DO IN SHIPPING
"Coming together to make a sustainable shift is not only a socially responsible act - but also an opportunity for this generation of Maritime leaders to leave behind a legacy of helping solve one of the world's most intractable problems"
​
- Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller Center for Zero Carbon Shipping
IMO Regulations
Further into the future, the IMO needs to tighten the engine operation regulation to further encourage the shipowners to install carbon-zero engines. The XeroCarbon engine is still in its design phase - but once it is installed, it will provide a cleaner alternative to existing engines that operate on HFO and other hydrocarbon fuels. These carbon-zero engines are allowed to operate at 100% because there are no direct carbon emissions.
Green fuel
Ammonia is not the only green fuel under development. Some alternatives such as fuel cell technology, utilize electricity to power the vessel instead of combusting fuel.