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The obvious idea that slashes shipping's climate impact

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By illuminem briefings

· 2 min read


illuminem summarizes for you the essential news of the day. Read the full piece on the BBC or enjoy below:

🗞️ Driving the news: The shipping industry is exploring slower sailing as a method to reduce emissions and costs
• This concept gained traction after a 2021 port congestion in California led to ships slowing down, saving around 460,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions

🔭 The context: The traditional "sail fast, then wait" approach in shipping is wasteful and expensive
• Implementing slower sailing by timing arrivals more precisely can reduce emissions by up to 20%, though it faces logistical and economic challenges

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: Shipping accounts for about 2% of global CO2 emissions
• Reducing speed not only cuts emissions but also decreases fuel consumption, contributing to global efforts to combat climate change

⏭️ What's next: The Blue Visby Solution system is being tested to optimize sailing speeds based on port traffic forecasts, aiming to minimize waiting times and emissions
• Successful implementation could lead to widespread adoption in the industry

💬 One quote: "By reducing the speed by 10%, maybe by a mile an hour, you can reduce the emissions by around 20%," says Grant Hunter, director for standards, innovation, and research at Bimco

📈 One stat: In late 2021, ships sailing slower across the Pacific to avoid congestion at California ports saved approximately 460,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions

Click for more news covering the latest on carbon and sustainable mobility

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