Join Our Crew

Reports Learn the Issue Know the Facts FAQ

The maritime shipping sector is fueled by the world’s dirtiest fossil fuels but retailers have an opportunity to clean ship up.

Global map showing the world's pollution
Retail’s Polluting Problem

At any given moment, more than 50,000 merchant ships are crossing the oceans. These ships moving 90% of world trade burn the world’s dirtiest fossil fuels and emit 1 billion metric tons of climate pollution a year and rising, making the industry one of the world’s top 10 climate polluters.

Retail’s Polluting Problem

At any given moment, more than 50,000 merchant ships are crossing the oceans. These ships moving 90% of world trade burn the world’s dirtiest fossil fuels and emit 1 billion metric tons of climate pollution a year and rising, making the industry one of the world’s top 10 climate polluters.

Mauritius oil spill
Big Oil’s False Solutions

Big Oil and Big Shipping are partners in climate destruction. Heavily-polluting, fossil-fueled ships are one of the oil industry’s financial lifeboats—used by major retailers every day to ship products overseas. Big Oil is pushing false “clean shipping” solutions that still use fossil fuels and “scrubbers” that turn air pollution into ocean pollution. These false solutions only continue to pollute and threaten our climate and health.

Big Oil’s False Solutions

Big Oil and Big Shipping are partners in climate destruction. Heavily-polluting, fossil-fueled ships are one of the oil industry’s financial lifeboats—used by major retailers every day to ship products overseas. Big Oil is pushing false “clean shipping” solutions that still use fossil fuels and “scrubbers” that turn air pollution into ocean pollution. These false solutions only continue to pollute and threaten our climate and health.

The Cost to Our Health

As cargo ships pull into ports and coastal communities to offload their goods, they often idle their engines, polluting the air in nearby communities. Air pollution from the heavily-polluting cargo ships that your favorite brands use to ship products has been linked to 6.4 million childhood asthma cases annually and contributes to over 250,000 premature deaths in primarily low-income Black and Latinx communities.

The Cost to Our Health

As cargo ships pull into ports and coastal communities to offload their goods, they often idle their engines, polluting the air in nearby communities. Air pollution from the heavily-polluting cargo ships that your favorite brands use to ship products has been linked to 6.4 million childhood asthma cases annually and contributes to over 250,000 premature deaths in primarily low-income Black and Latinx communities.

Bringing Zero-Emissions to the Seas

As we push to electrify cars, buses and trucks, we need zero-emissions solutions for all types of transportation, including on the high seas. Already, technology exists to reduce 30% of a ship’s climate-warming emissions for every trip it takes—and the first hydrogen-fueled ship about to set sail in 2024.

Bringing Zero-Emissions to the Seas

As we push to electrify cars, buses and trucks, we need zero-emissions solutions for all types of transportation, including on the high seas. Already, technology exists to reduce 30% of a ship’s climate-warming emissions for every trip it takes—and the first hydrogen-fueled ship about to set sail in 2024.

Our Demands

Ship It Zero is pressuring four of America’s largest retailers—Amazon, The Home Depot, IKEA, Target, and Walmart—to take the following actions:

End Port Pollution Now
Put the health of our coastal and port neighbors first by requiring your cargo carriers to use clean energy and electrification in major ports and eliminate port pollution now.
Unimpressed cartoon ship emitting smoke from its chimney. A red arrow points to our demands.
Abandon Dirty Ships
Immediately shift products away from fossil-fueled ships by prioritizing routes and cargo carriers that are taking immediate steps to end emissions, and publicly reject false solutions like Liquified Natural Gas (LNG), carbon credits, and biofuels.
The number zero on the horizon of a cartoon sea. Dark clouds of emissions obscure parts of the zero.
Put Zero at the Helm
Commit to 100% zero emission shipping by 2030, sign contracts now to ship your goods on the world’s first zero-emissions ships, and publicly disclose year-by-year plans for how you’ll reach this target.

Read more about ‘Our Demands’ here.

Read our latest updates.
SEE ALL
Be part of the solution.
TAKE ACTION