Decarbonising Container Shipping

In the September 2022 discussion, Uwe Schulte interviews Jacob Sterling, Senior Director and Head of Ocean Decarbonization and Innovation at Maersk, about the company’s efforts to decarbonise container shipping. Sterling, who joined Maersk in 2009 from WWF, shares his early passion for environmental issues and his professional journey into sustainability. He outlines Maersk’s transition from port-to-port shipping to end-to-end logistics and emphasizes the company’s commitment to addressing its carbon footprint. Sterling discusses Maersk’s ambitious goal to achieve net-zero emissions by 2040, a decade earlier than initially planned. He highlights the challenges and strategies, including the adoption of green methanol as an alternative fuel and the importance of collaborative efforts with suppliers and stakeholders. Sterling also underscores the need for government action, particularly the implementation of a global carbon tax on shipping, to accelerate the industry’s shift towards sustainability. The interview concludes with a call for tangible actions and regulatory support to drive the transition to greener shipping practices.