In a thought-provoking piece published in *Global Sustainability*, Christiaan De Beukelaer, a researcher from the University of Melbourne and the Swedish Collegium for Advanced Study, challenges some of the most commonly cited statistics about the maritime industry and its environmental impact. The article, titled “Ninety percent of everything? Recalibrating the environmental impact of shipping, between ‘too big to fail’ and ‘too small to matter,'” urges a critical reassessment of the numbers often used to shape policy and public perception.
De Beukelaer starts by highlighting two widely accepted figures: that ships transport 80-90% of international trade by weight and that the ocean covers 71% of the planet’s surface. While these numbers are technically correct, he argues that they can be misleading. For instance, while ships indeed move a vast amount of goods by weight, they only account for about 10.8% of the economy’s material footprint. Similarly, while the ocean covers a significant portion of the Earth’s surface, it makes up just 0.12% of its volume.
The implications of these figures are significant for the maritime industry. On one hand, the industry often uses these statistics to argue that it is “too big to fail” and that its emissions are “too small to matter” in the grand scheme of globalized consumer capitalism. On the other hand, environmentalists use these same figures to advocate for policies like “buying local” to reduce shipping’s environmental footprint.
De Beukelaer warns that relying on such crude quantifications can lead to unintended consequences for both the economy and the environment. He emphasizes the need to question these figures every time they are invoked to ensure that policy interventions are well-informed and effective.
For maritime professionals, this research underscores the importance of nuanced thinking about the industry’s role in global trade and its environmental impact. It also highlights opportunities for innovation in logistics and maritime transport to reduce the material footprint of shipping. As De Beukelaer puts it, “Evidence demonstrates that environmental policy derived from crude quantification of an industry’s significance can have unintended, and at times unwanted, consequences for the world’s economy and, crucially, the planet’s environment.”
In essence, the article calls for a more sophisticated understanding of the maritime industry’s role in the global economy and its environmental impact. By questioning commonly accepted figures, De Beukelaer hopes to foster a more informed and effective approach to policy-making and environmental stewardship. The research was published in *Global Sustainability*, which translates to *Global Hållbarhet* in Swedish, reflecting the journal’s focus on sustainability across various domains.
This nuanced perspective is crucial for maritime professionals navigating the complex landscape of global trade and environmental responsibility. As the industry continues to evolve, a critical examination of its impact and role will be essential in shaping a sustainable future.