UN shipping body’s green fuels law could worsen the sector’s

The International Maritime Organization (IMO) is drafting plans that could significantly increase the use of biofuels in the shipping industry. A recent analysis by Transport & Environment (T&E) warns that nearly one-third of global shipping could rely on biofuels by 2030. However, this shift may lead to increased greenhouse gas emissions and threaten food supplies. The study highlights that the majority of these biofuels will come from palm and soy, which are linked to deforestation and rising vegetable oil prices.

Biofuels: A Double-Edged Sword for Shipping

The T&E analysis reveals that biofuels could account for up to 270 million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions by 2030, potentially making the situation worse than maintaining the current fossil fuel reliance. Currently, less than 1% of global shipping uses biofuels, but this figure could rise dramatically. The study indicates that palm and soy oil will likely constitute around 60% of the biodiesel used in shipping, primarily because they are the cheapest options available. However, this reliance poses a significant climate risk, as these crops produce two to three times more carbon emissions than traditional shipping fuels when considering deforestation and land clearance.

To meet the projected demand for biofuels, the shipping industry would require vast amounts of farmland—approximately 34 million hectares, equivalent to the size of Germany. This conversion of land for biofuel crops could severely impact food production. T&E estimates that around 300 million bottles of vegetable oil could be redirected from grocery stores to fuel ships daily by 2030. Constance Dijkstra, shipping manager at T&E, emphasizes the detrimental effects of using crops for fuel, stating, “Fueling cargo ships with deforestation is a terrible idea.”

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Shipping companies have begun investing in alternative fuels like used cooking oil (UCO) and animal fats. However, these waste biofuels can only meet a small fraction of the projected demand. For instance, a single cargo ship traveling between China and Brazil would require the annual waste oil from over 2,000 McDonald’s restaurants. To operate on animal fats, it would need the yearly output from over 1 million pigs.

In light of these findings, several shipping companies and NGOs are urging the IMO to exclude unsustainable biofuels from its list of green alternatives. T&E calls for a clear definition of ‘zero’ and ‘near zero’ emission fuels, a cap on food-based biofuels, and incentives for green e-fuels derived from renewable sources. The future of shipping fuels hangs in the balance, and the decisions made now will have lasting impacts on both the environment and global food security.