Global cruise vacation company Royal Caribbean Group announced today the launch of “Destination to net Zero”, a comprehensive decarbonization strategy to reach net zero emissions by 2050 and includes an ambition to deliver a net zero emissions cruise ship by 2035.
Richard Fain, chairman, and CEO, Royal Caribbean Group, said:
“Decades ago, we set out on a course to advance sustainability; our vision now is to realize carbon-free cruising over the next two decades. Today we are announcing the most important destination of all in our company’s history – Destination Net Zero – an ambitious strategy to cut emissions, protect our oceans, and ensure the viability of the hundreds of destinations that our guests and crew members care deeply about.”
The company’s decarbonization strategy focuses on several key pillars, including modernizing its fleet, investing in energy efficiency programs, such as energy saving technologies, enhanced data systems and digitalization, developing alternative fuels and alternative power solutions, and deploying strategic shore-based supply chains.
Silvia Garrigo, Royal Caribbean Group Chief EnvironmentalEnvironmental criteria consider how a company performs as a steward of nature. SocialSocial criteria examine how it manages relationships with employees, suppliers, customers, and the communities where it operates. GovernanceGovernance deals with a company’s leadership, executive pay, audits, internal controls, and shareholder rights. (ESGEnvironmental, social, and governance (ESG) criteria are a set of standards for a company’s operations that socially conscious investors use to screen potential investments.) Officer, said:
“Destination Net Zero will help guide our decision-making in the years to come and builds on Royal Caribbean Group’s continuous improvement mantra. While we may not have all the answers now, this comprehensive company-wide strategy amplifies our focus on long-term emissions reduction and provides us a roadmap for how to get there.”
Announcing its ambition for net zero cruise ships, Royal Caribbean noted that it has been actively working to improve the environmentalEnvironmental criteria consider how a company performs as a steward of nature. impact of its fleet, with initiatives including optimized hull design and system upgrades such as AC chillers creating significant energy consumption savings, and each generation of the ship being 20-25% more efficient than its predecessor. The company recently introduced “Project Evolution,” with plans to launch the cruise industry’s first ship powered by a combination of hydrogen fuel cells and liquified natural gas in 2023.
As part of its new strategy, over 18 to 24 months, the company stated that it plans to develop goals to be validated by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi), which would mark the first such pledge for the cruise industry.
William K. Reilly, chairman, Royal Caribbean Group’s board of directors’ safety, environment, and health committee.
“Royal Caribbean Group has a history of innovating in every aspect and level of the company. This is another important step on the serious and ambitious path to preserve the health and allure of the sea and the beauty of the oceans.”
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