A.P. Moller – Maersk, a leading Danish shipping and logistics company, has achieved a significant milestone by becoming the first maritime sector entity to have its greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction targets officially validated by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi). This validation confirms that Maersk’s targets align with the ambitious 1.5-degree Celsius pathway set out in the Paris Agreement, marking a crucial step in the fight against climate change.
The company’s GHG emission targets, now validated under SBTi’s new Maritime Guidance, underscore Maersk’s commitment to achieving Net-Zero GHG emissions across its entire business by 2040, with significant interim goals for 2030. These targets are comprehensive, encompassing reductions in emissions from Maersk’s own operations (scope 1 and 2) as well as those occurring across its supply chains (scope 3).
Rabab Raafat Boulos, Chief Operating Officer at A.P. Moller – Maersk, expressed pride in this achievement, highlighting it as a testament to the company’s dedication to addressing climate change. “The Science Based Targets initiative sets the gold standard for corporate climate ambitions, and securing this validation underscores our commitment to environmental stewardship,” Boulos stated. She emphasized the collaborative nature of these efforts, acknowledging the essential role of customers, suppliers, industry peers, and regulators. Boulos also called for global regulations from the International Maritime Organization (IMO) to ensure a fair transition to green fuels by mitigating the cost disparity with fossil fuels.
Since 2019, Maersk has aligned its climate targets with the scientific recommendations and guidelines provided by the SBTi. Following the release of SBTi’s maritime transport sector guidelines in late 2022, Maersk submitted its detailed near- and long-term targets based on a 2022 baseline, aiming for absolute reductions in emissions.
Morten Bo Christiansen, Head of Energy Transition at A.P. Moller – Maersk, acknowledged the challenge ahead. “These targets validate our commitment to ambitious, science-based climate action within a sector that is traditionally hard to abate. Achieving these goals will be challenging, but setting them is crucial for driving meaningful action this decade,” Christiansen remarked.
In addition to setting targets, Maersk is actively involved in shaping the maritime sector’s approach to implementing the IMO’s Greenhouse Gas Strategy. The company advocates for regulatory measures that accelerate the sector’s energy transition, emphasizing the importance of addressing the cost gap between green and fossil fuels. In this vein, Maersk and its World Shipping Council peers are preparing a “green balance proposal” for the upcoming IMO MEPC81, aiming to facilitate the industry’s shift towards sustainable energy sources.
