Morten Engelstoft, CEO of APM Shipping Services, says CO2 issues will be on his agenda as a newly appointed member of a UN High-level Advisory Group for Sustainable Transport.
The cause to champion CO2 reduction in shipping has been given a boost from a Maersk Group perspective. Morten Engelstoft, CEO of Services and Other Shipping, has recently been appointed by United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon as a member of a High-Level Advisory Group on Sustainable Transport.

The 12-member group, which is established for a period of three years, will provide recommendations at all global, national, local and sector levels, to promote sustainable transport systems, including climate action.

Says Engelstoft: “I am very proud to be appointed to the advisory group and look forward to contribute to advancing future sustainable transport – a subject which is highly important to the Maersk Group.”



Morten Engelstoft, CEO of APM Shipping Services.

Engelstoft names CO2 reduction as one of his top priorities. He says: “There is a need to push for a global level playing field with CO2 regulations for the shipping sector to be clearly defined in the IMO”. He also stresses market transparency on metrics to measure CO2 efficiency across all modes of transport, and addresses the need for more infrastructural investments.

“Waterborne transportation is in many cases the most CO2 efficient means of transportation (see box). Infrastructure investment decisions made today supporting infrastructure for waterborne transportation will enable lower emissions from transportation 10 and 20 years down the line, if players can maximise use of waterborne transportation.”






Credit: Maersk Line, Sustainability and Maersk Group Sustainability Report 2013.

Why the particular need to pay attention to shipping
The Liner business takes up 82% of all CO2 emissions from the Group. Container shipping is the most energy efficient means to move high volumes of goods across long distances. However, in absolute terms, the environmental impacts of the industry are still significant.

Says Justin Gadbois, General Manager, Maersk Line Sustainability: “For us it makes good business sense to drive our CO2 performance and therefore it is important for us to push for an equal level playing field so that our good performance is not eroded by poorly designed or enforced regulation.”
Source: Maersk