Maritime shipping is responsible for 80% of all global trade port to port, but it comes at a cost: If counted as a country, the sector would rank among the top 10 highest global polluters. While the International Maritime Organization recently set a target to reach net-zero emissions “by or around” 2050, the shipping industry has much work to do to make good on this goal: Commercial shipping vessels have run on heavy fuel oil since the 19th century, and no clean and commercially viable alternatives currently exist. Read more.

At the most recent Belt and Road Initiative summit in October 2023, Chinese President Xi Jinping reiterated China’s commitment to cease building new coal plants abroad and opt for renewable energy instead. This is a significant statement, since the first decade of the Belt and Road Initiative, China’s massive international infrastructure project, was dominated by fossil fuel investment. The country directed $52 billion to coal alone over the last 10 years. China’s commitment to a greener BRI is welcome news, but it may prove easier said than done. Read more.

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