As part of the world’s largest cruise company, we create unforgettable holiday happiness for hundreds of thousands of people every single day. With that purpose comes the important responsibility to reduce our impact on the environment.
This week, Carnival Corporation has announced we’re on pace to achieve an overall 18% reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emission intensity on a lower berth capacity basis in 2024 (compared to 2019) – just a few points shy of our 20% reduction goal originally targeted for 2030. We expect this performance to put us ahead of the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) 2030 carbon intensity reduction timeline.
This announcement follows Carnival Corporation’s decision last year to accelerate our stated 2030 GHG intensity reduction goal by four years, committing to at least a 20% cut on a lower berth capacity basis by 2026 (versus 2019 levels). Thanks to our aggressive, longstanding, and ongoing actions to be more energy efficient, reduce overall fuel use, and operate using emission-reducing technologies and lower-emission fuels, Carnival Corporation is producing 10+% less total GHG emissions today than its peak historical year (2011), despite increasing capacity by roughly 30% since that time.
How it’s being done
Carnival Corporation is executing on two parallel paths to achieve these significant reductions. First, the company recognises that using less fuel is the fastest way to reduce GHG emissions and make a tangible impact. Since cruise ships generate their electricity from fuel, Carnival Corporation set out to uncover every area where energy can be saved and cut the amount of fuel used. As a result, the company has implemented several fuel and energy-saving innovations and continues to invest in improvements to drive further reductions. This includes:
- Upgrading the fleet with innovative technology packages, including modern and efficient Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) systems, state-of-the-art LED and smart lighting technologies.
- Optimising hull design and special coatings to minimise drag for greater fuel efficiency.
- Developing more energy-efficient itineraries.
- Using shoreside electric power capabilities when available in port.
- Installing Air Lubrication Systems (ALS) to help ships glide on a cushion of air bubbles with less friction.
At the same time, lacking zero-emission fuels broadly available to the maritime industry and with fossil fuels as the only viable option at scale today, Carnival Corporation has continued to look for ways to lower GHG and other emissions from the fuel already used, while also pioneering lower-emission alternatives and actively exploring new technologies to power our ships. This includes:
- Leading the industry with nine Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG)-capable ships, delivering immediate GHG reductions.
- Improving air emissions with Advanced Air Quality Systems.
- Trialling advanced fuel technologies, including a first-of-its-kind lithium-ion battery storage system, testing fuel cells and leading the industry in piloting biofuels as a fossil fuel replacement.
Read the full article here, plus find out more about our sustainability focus areas at carnivalsustainability.com.