Royal Caribbean and MSC Cruises have each pledged to meet net zero emissions by 2050, while Norwegian Cruise Lines has spoken of a "long-term goal" to reach climate neutrality.īeginning in 2023, all large ships will be assigned a Carbon Intensity Indicator (CII), worked out by dividing CO2 output by the capacity of the ship and again by nautical miles traveled. Cruise liners produce more carbon dioxide annually on average than any other kind of ship due to their air conditioning, heated pools and other hotel amenities, studies have shown.Ĭarnival, which describes itself as "sustainable from ship to shore," has committed to reducing its carbon emissions 40% by 2030 to meet the terms of the Paris Agreement, which aims to limit global temperature rises to 1.5C. Shipping emits about 2.9% of global carbon dioxide emissions, just over a billion tons of CO2 annually. "They are trying to water down the regulations."īut the cruise industry argues the new regulation misrepresents the efficiency of their vessels, which should not be penalized for spending more time in port than cargo ships. "The regulations are very weak anyway, and CLIA is trying to make them even weaker," said Maggs, who has almost 30 years in the field. The proposed change would "certainly" have had a negative climate impact, said John Maggs, president of the Clean Shipping Coalition, an umbrella group of environmental groups that has official status at the maritime organization. Some 175 member states vote on its proposed legislation. The International Maritime Organization is the United Nations body responsible for regulating the safety and environmental impact of shipping. Yet according to a filing in April, the cruise ship association lobbied the International Maritime Organization's members to change proposed rules in a manner critics say will lead to increased emissions, while saving cruise lines money.
Its four biggest members, Carnival Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean, Norwegian Cruise Line and MSC Cruises, tout their climate awareness and have all committed to drastically cutting emissions. The Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) has membership that accounts for 95% of global cruise trips. Environmental groups say it also would have led to more air pollution by allowing cruise liners to continue with business as usual. Late last month, the International Maritime Organization rejected a cruise industry effort that would have improved cruise ships' carbon pollution scores. The trade group representing the cruise ship industry unsuccessfully pushed international authorities to water down new environmental regulations despite its members' climate commitments, experts in marine air pollution warn.