In the UK, new research into public attitudes towards alternative shipping fuels shows public backing for biofuel and hydrogen.
The study involving the University of Southampton also found that nuclear was preferred to the heavy fuel oil (HFO) currently used in the global shipping industry, although both were perceived negatively. Ammonia had the least public support.
Global shipping is responsible for 80% to 90% of the world trade and accounts for around 3% of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. In 2021, 230 industry leaders pledged to achieve net-zero GHG emissions by 2050.
The new study published in Environment, Development and Sustainability is the first to test public attitudes to various fuels that could play a crucial role in decarbonizing the global shipping industry.
