The Sustainability Imperative – Part 2

Meet the team
At the time of publishing our original report, ‘The Sustainability Imperative’, in 2021 we committed to preparing a follow-up report about two years later. We set out to examine to what extent the findings of the survey in our original report, and the attitudes of the industry, would hold true more than two years later or if we would start seeing changes within the industry.

Our follow up report ‘The Sustainability Imperative – Part 2’, available to download below, shows growing collaboration between industry participants on sustainability. Just over two years later, the industry has a better idea of the trade-offs necessary to achieve net zero, although most of the practical work still lies ahead, and regulatory and technology uncertainties remain. This new research seeks to understand how attitudes have evolved, who is shaping today’s ESG agenda and how sustainability squares with new geopolitical challenges.

With around 500 senior level responses to our survey, interviews with eight key industry participants and many hours of work analysing and pulling the data together, we hope you’ll agree that the final report is a work of substance and authority.

Key Takeaways

Drawing on a series of in-depth interviews with shipowners, charterers and financiers and a global survey of nearly 500 executives and senior managers across those communities, our key findings are:

 

 

"Given how important the maritime industry is to our firm we are pleased that we stuck to the commitment we made in 2021 to produce this in-depth follow-up report."George Paleokrassas and George Macheras

28%

of the maritime industry will meet milestones for emissions within five years (respondents estimate).

For all the upheaval of the past few years, none of the core issues has changed. Decarbonisation of shipping still depends on the right combination of rules, incentives, hardware and money, while industry stakeholders – from shipowners to charterers to customers – all have a role to play.

Our new survey shows growing collaboration between industry participants on sustainability. But greater understanding of ESG challenges has also made people more pessimistic – or possibly realistic – about the pace of progress. On any measure, be it environmental targets, crew welfare, diversity or transparency – survey respondents are now less bullish about progress than they were two years ago.

"Two years ago we could see the mountain; now we have started to climb it."Christos Tsakonas, Global Head of Shipping, DNB

56%

of shipowners already are in ESG-linked tie-ups.

This report examines why and how far attitudes towards ESG have shifted, and what actions industry participants are taking in response. Finally, it seeks to chart a path forward, looking at the technologies available, how they will be funded, and potential new regulation in areas like carbon trading.

 

"Without humans operating the ships, it’s not going to work, so the ‘S’ is very important and the ‘G’ – it goes hand in hand with all of that."Guy Platten, Secretary General, ICS

We trust you will find The Sustainability Imperative – Part 2 to be an important read, and one that can help shape the parameters of the debate and discussion around sustainability and ESG in shipping going forward.

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Videos

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Launching our follow-up report on sustainability in shipping

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Alternative fuels and other notable features

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Drivers and the role of carbon trading

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Webinar 1

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Webinar 2

Meet the team

Key contacts

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