Dear John,
The COVID-19 pandemic has put the Cruise Industry once again into the national spotlight. Well known for being hotbeds for disease to spread, the industry has always put profits over the health and wellbeing of people.
Cruise corporations like Carnival are rightly facing backlash for brushing the COVID-19 warning signs under the rug while continuing to operate as usual. But we know cruises will start again -- probably well before it’s safe. And passengers, crews, port communities, and the planet are at risk if the Cruise Industry does not take a giant leap forward to overhaul their commitment to environmental and community protection.
As the industry begins to move towards a re-start, please demand they not return to business as usual until major improvements have been implemented.
Tell the Cruise Industry: Commit to protecting the health of consumers, communities, and the planet before restarting cruises!
Cruise companies pollute our water, air, and climate. By dumping illegal waste, plastic, and oil into our oceans they have shown a complete disregard for our fragile ocean ecosystem. One person on a 7-day cruise creates the same emissions they would during an 18-day trip on land.
Before the pandemic, the number of cruises continued to increase every year, getting bigger and bigger. It was expected that over 32 million people would go on a cruise this year! Without updated precautions and regulations, cruises will continue to be major sources for disease and pollution.
We need you to challenge companies like Carnival to make a commitment to better serve our Earth!
Sign the Petition: Call on the big cruise companies to stop their past polluting ways!
Giant cruise ships traditionally use diesel engines, gas turbines, or a combination of both. The pollution from the nitrogen oxide emissions of a diesel engine have been linked to lung cancer and respiratory disease. Additionally, they create a high sulfur content, which is extremely toxic to the environment by mixing with water and air to form sulfuric acid -- the main component of acid rain that can cause destruction to aquatic life, deforestation, and more.
By stopping pollution and achieving zero emissions by 2050, the Cruise Industry could provide environmentally responsible economic benefits to port communities while drastically reducing their environmental harm. This is possible -- the industry could switch to the cleanest fuel options available, halt the dumping of untreated or poorly treated waste like sewage into our oceans, and create transparency in their performance to help clean up their act.
As worldwide cruising takes a pause, the industry has a tremendous opportunity to choose a more sustainable pathway forward. But the temptation will be strong for it to continue with business as usual, putting profits over people and the environment.
Don’t let the Cruise Industry continue to endanger communities, workers and the planet.
Send a message: Cruise companies must overhaul their practices to avoid destructive pollution!
Standing with you,
Marcie Keever,
Oceans and vessels program director,
Friends of the Earth
