Climate organizations are optimistic about green methanol for ships, urge rejection of fossil gas marine fuel

Unceded Coast Salish Territories (VANCOUVER, BC) – Environmental groups are encouraged by an announcement at today’s Pacific Northwest to Alaska Cruise Corridor webinar that a green methanol cruise ship could be traveling the Washington State to Alaska cruise route by 2030, but urge both cruise lines and ports along the route to categorically reject fossil gas.

The Alaska cruise route travels through fragile ecosystems and critical habitat for Southern and Northern Resident killer whales, and vessels on this route are highly polluting. Cruise lines have also been at the forefront of embracing fracked gas as a marine fuel. 

“Climate disruption is already impacting B.C. with increasing wildfires, droughts, and heat waves. While we applaud today’s announcement of green methanol marine fuel for the Alaska green cruise corridor, we need to see words turned to action. The Port of Vancouver and cruise lines must reject fossil gas as a marine fuel and rapidly scale up green fuels if we are to secure a livable future for marine life and local communities” said Anna Barford, shipping campaigner with Stand.earth. “A truly green cruise corridor requires a massive overhaul of the sector, including commitments to stop using fracked LNG fuels, to stop sewage and fossil fuel combustion waste discharges, and to redirect resources to zero emission vessel fuels and technologies.”

Activists are seeking transparency and strong commitments in line with the Paris Agreement on climate change. Groups are also pushing for strong protections for communities and wildlife. Cruise ships are the most environmentally destructive option available for mass market leisure, and produce more greenhouse gases per passenger-kilometre than air travel.

“While the proposed green methanol for boats is a good sign, the ‘decarbonization by 2050’ goal stated during the webinar leaves decades of business-as-usual pollution generated by cruise liners. It means that until 2050 their ships may still operate using one of the cheapest, dirtiest fuels, which toxifies air and water while generating large amounts of greenhouse gasses. This is unacceptable. The question is, what is the shipping industry and regulators doing now about their air and water pollution?” said Karla Hart, Global Cruise Activist Network Facilitator

Over the last decade, the cruise ship industry to Alaska has grown tremendously. The Alaska cruise sector, with home ports in Seattle, Washington and Vancouver, British Columbia, is about six percent of the global cruise industry, concentrated into a narrow travel route through environmentally rich and sensitive waters. More than 1.6 million passengers on over 500 cruise ship sailings are overwhelming local communities and cruise ships burning fossil fuels pollute pristine air and waters.

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Note to editor: A deep dive into comments and responses at the webinar will be available here [LINK PENDING].

Contact:

Anna Barford, Canada Shipping Campaigner, Stand.earth. +1 604-757-7029
anna@stand.earth (Pacific Time)

Arin de Hoog, Communications Specialist, Oil, Gas and Shipping, Stand.earth. +1 613-978-7329 arin.dehoog@stand.earth (ET)