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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
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