Thread by @qz

1/ America’s post-pandemic shopping spree is taking its toll on the environment. Ships chasing record-high container prices are speeding across the ocean to load up as often as they can, raising emissions at the fastest rate since 2008. qz.com/2090157/supply…

2/ Container ships are speeding up as much as 22% faster in good weather, and consuming more fuel in the process. Congestion at overflowing ports are leaving a record number of ships idling in the water, pumping pollution into surrounding neighborhoods.
qz.com/2090157/supply…

3/ The most dramatic increases in emissions have come from vessels serving US demand, with container ship emissions at port up 94%. METIS estimates an overall increase in total annual emissions of 15%, between 2020 and 2021. qz.com/2090157/supply…

4/ The shipping industry emits about 3% of the world’s greenhouse gasses. The surge in emissions can have long-term consequences for the shipping industry’s ability to stay in line with the Paris Agreement’s goal of keeping global temperatures below 1.5°C.
qz.com/2090157/supply…

5/ In October, nine major retailers, including Amazon and IKEA, announced a call to progressively switch to using zero-carbon vessels to ship their goods. The announcement was seen as a demand from the world’s largest retailers for zero-emissions ships.
qz.com/2073222/what-d…

6/ Shipping’s record profits from the supply chain chaos could be used to retrofit ships with zero-emission cargo sails, for example. Instead, shipping companies are investing in air freight to move goods faster, at a higher cost to the environment. More: qz.com/2066887/cma-cg…