Hi! I’ve been working this summer at BSR in San Francisco’s Financial District. BSR is a global nonprofit organization that was founded at the Rio Earth Summit in 1992. The organization works with its network of more than 250 member companies and other partners to build a just and sustainable world. From its offices in Asia, Europe, and North America, BSR develops sustainable business strategies and solutions through consulting, research, and cross-sector collaboration. 

Within BSR, I work in their Clean Cargo Working Group (CCWG) collaborative initiative, which is the leading buyer-supplier forum for sustainability in the cargo shipping industry. I came into this position having taken two courses at MIIS in international marine law and marine science and policy that dabbled in this field, but I had very limited knowledge in international maritime shipping. Luckily for me, I have Nico de Golia, a 2018 CBE Summer Fellow, showing me the ropes! Nico is the North America Sustainable Transport lead for CCWG. He spent countless hours in the first two weeks of my fellowship showing me the ropes of company and teaching me about ocean shipping. Here are some shocking facts about international maritime shipping I learned in those first two weeks:

International maritime shipping contributes almost 3% of global greenhouse gas emissions, consuming 4.4 million barrels of oil per day, which comprises of 10% of the global transportation sector and 5% of global oil demand. 90% of the world’s cargo is moved by ship, and CCWG works with 80% of the global container cargo capacity, collaborating with carriers, shippers, and freight forwarders to decarbonize the sector.

I have continued to be blown away by how little I knew about this unseen world of movement, even as a candidate for an ocean-focused international environmental policy master’s degree. I am excited to share more, and by the end of the fellowship, I aim to post a blog about research I’m conducting on how the International Maritime Organization’s upcoming 2020 sulfur restrictions will impact each stakeholder in the ocean shipping value chain.

Thank you!