As consumers continue to become more and more climate conscious, travel agents will likely field questions about cruises and sustainability. Here’s what you can tell your clients.
The global cruise industry has set its sights on achieving net-zero carbon cruising by 2050, and it’s not via token gestures (cue the plastic straw announcements — as necessary as that step was).
Instead, “innovation and engineering are at the heart of the industry’s vision for net zero carbon cruising”, Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) President and CEO Kelly Craighead said.
Over the next few years, the industry is committing to launching more vessels that will be able to incorporate zero-emissions propulsion (when available) as well as growing investment in the utilisation of land-based electricity, CLIA’s newly released 2022 Global Cruise Industry Environmental Technologies and Practices Report reveals.
According to the report, more than 15% of the vessels to be launched in the next five years will be equipped to incorporate fuel cells or batteries, and 85% of CLIA-member ships coming online between now and 2028 will be able to plug into shoreside electricity, allowing engines to switch off at berth for significant emissions reductions.
The cruise industry also “continues to lead the way” by investing billions to incorporate new technologies, accelerate development of sustainable marine fuels and enable shoreside electricity connectivity on existing and new ships, Craighead said.
“These are the fundamental building blocks for the decarbonisation of global shipping, and we are acting now for the future.”
Less than one per cent
CLIA Managing Director Australasia Joel Katz told Karryon cruise lines represent less than one per cent of shipping globally “but they’re at the forefront when it comes to investing in new technology and alternative fuels to reduce their footprint and move us closer to zero-carbon cruising”.
Katz admitted that while there are still technological and logistical challenges ahead, “we’re already seeing real benefits now and further benefits to come in the near future”.
“For the travel agent community, we know there will be increasing interest from consumers in the steps the industry is taking, so the progress we’re seeing in this latest report is very important.”
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For more information, visit CLIA here.
