INTERNATIONAL TRANSPORT:ON THE PATH TO DECARBONIZATION
World Earth Day falls on April 22, 2026. This day serves as a reminder of the green transition’s importance. This shift is vital across all sectors, especially international transportation. For instance, the maritime and aviation sectors now face major challenges. These include decarbonization, EU-ETS regulations, and the fight against pollution. Consequently, organizations like the IMO and the EU are driving a profound transformation.
SEVERAL STRATEGIES TO SUPPORT THE ENERGY TRANSITION
Maritime transport accounts for approximately 3% of global emissions, compared to nearly 2.5% for aviation.
In the maritime sector, inclusion in the EU ETS now imposes rising carbon costs, providing an incentive to accelerate the transition to carbon neutrality by 2050. This transformation relies in particular on alternative propulsion methods: sail assistance (modern sails), hybrid propulsion, partial electrification, or the use of alternative fuels such as hydrogen, methanol, or ammonia. See our article “Change is in the air and at sea.”
In the aviation sector, the path forward relies primarily on the development of sustainable aviation fuels (SAF), considered the main driver of decarbonization. These could account for a significant portion of long-term emissions reductions, even though their deployment remains limited due to high costs and insufficient production.
Faced with these constraints, the aviation sector’s strategy relies on a combination of levers: improving aircraft energy efficiency, optimizing operations, renewing fleets, and gradually scaling up the use of alternative fuels.
PLASTIC POLLUTION AND GLOBAL TRANSFORMATION
Beyond climate issues, the fight against plastic pollution has emerged as a key focus of the maritime transport transition. The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has set a goal of achieving zero plastic discharge at sea by 2030. This will require stricter regulations, improved onboard waste management, and the development of appropriate port infrastructure.
With the theme of Earth Day 2026 being “Planet vs. Plastic,” this momentum reflects a broader transformation of the transportation sector, which must adapt to multiple environmental requirements.
The shift toward greener transportation in the maritime and aviation sectors is underway, driven by various technological innovations and international regulations. From new modes of transport and alternative fuels to optimized logistics, our Balguerie Group experts offer you customized, more sustainable transportation solutions tailored to your needs.
