MSC and South Pole to roll out carbon neutral strategy

The MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) is extending the MSC Carbon Neutral Programme worldwide after successfully implementing it in several selected countries.

According to a statement, MSC, the second biggest container shipping line in the world, has rolled out its initiative with climate solutions provider South Pole since early 2019. It now plans to roll out its entire strategy by the end of 2020.

The carrier says the strategic approach to sustainability and massive investment in reducing emissions across its fleet. It recently completed the launch of the largest class of container ships which produce the lowest CO2 emissions per container carried by design – MSC’s Gülsün Class.

As part of the Carbon Neutral Programme, MSC customers can compensate the emissions from the transportation of their cargo by financially contributing to two selected projects that reduce emissions.

South Pole cancels the same amount of carbon credits generated by these projects, which are audited and third-party certified according to the most stringent international standards, the Verified Carbon Standard (Verra), the Climate, Community and Biodiversity Standards and the Social Carbon

Furthermore, MSC is actively exploring and trialling a range of alternative fuel and propulsion technologies to support the container shipping industry’s long-term goals to decarbonise.

“In addition to running the biggest fleet investment programme in the industry, MSC has ensured that customers have an option to compensate CO2 emissions through the global MSC Carbon Neutral Programme”, according to Claudio Bozzo, Chief Operating Officer, MSC.

“We have partnered with South Pole, a leading, certified third party to extend the MSC Carbon Neutral Programme and help bridge the gap between shipping today and the zero-carbon future we all aspire to.”

MSC claims it was the first major shipping line in 2019 to offer an option to fully compensate the unavoidable carbon emissions caused by the transport of their cargo through supporting climate protection projects managed by South Pole.

The climate action projects developed by South Pole deliver measurable benefits aligned with the goals of the Paris Agreement and the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

https://www.porttechnology.org/news/msc-and-south-pole-to-roll-out-carbon-neutral-strategy/