World's largest shipping firm pledges to reduce net carbon emissions to zero … by 2050

It looks like the human race might be saved from extinction after all. Just this summer, California’s assembly approved a bill that would transition the state completely off fossil fuels by 2045. (How’s that bullet train coming along, by the way?) And now shipping giant Maersk has pledged to abandon fossil fuels entirely by 2050, reducing its “net” carbon emissions to zero.

This is big news. The world's biggest shipping firm pledges to cut carbon emissions to zero. CEO says "We will have to abandon fossil fuels."https://t.co/JMUMwnxSPd

— Bill McKibben (@billmckibben) December 5, 2018

ok, i’ll bite: how? how in the hell? And, … by what year?

— Scott McCrossen (@ScottMcCrossen) December 5, 2018

By 2050.

So 8 years after the end of Earth as we know it.

— 12th man@Oceanside (@J_hawks13) December 5, 2018

And remain competitive…?

— Mark Gibson (@faithlessnomad) December 5, 2018

But how?

— Arun J (@arunkj78) December 5, 2018

Where there is zero definitive info on ‘how’ they plan to accomplish this.

“We will have to abandon fossil fuels. We will have to find a different type of fuel or a different way to power our assets.

I commend them but it’s just an announcement of intent at this point.

— Man 0f the Pe0ple (@ChampionM0nster) December 5, 2018

Key word: “net”. To achieve their goal they wouldn’t have to cut carbon at all. Just buy some windmills or something. Net Zero Carbon.

— Mike (@MichaelCMarkert) December 5, 2018

Not sure how they will do this. No alternative fuels exist or are close to commercialized. I’m skeptical we ever get biofuels to that state…

— The UX Mustache (@jonmaimon) December 5, 2018

Sails aren't going to move a ship at the rate of profits. No flipping way in this universe solar will move a ship across the ocean fast enough or even against current. It'll be nuclear. That's the ONLY way to achieve that pledge. Good job, Schatz for being utterly clueless AGAIN.

— Vote R for jobs, D for mobs (@Legislate_Watch) December 5, 2018

It seems nuclear is probably the only fuel source available. With 25 year lifespans, retrofits would be necessary to get to zero by 2044 even if every new ship tomorrow is carbon free. And environmentalists don't like nukes…

— KyleSchroeckenthaler (@schroeck_k) December 5, 2018

Borrowing nuclear reactors from the Navy?

— Keith Bellairs (@KeithBellairs) December 5, 2018

Sail powered container ships?

— joe (@argusdog1206) December 5, 2018

Sails of solar panels?

— Traruh Synred (@synredae) December 5, 2018

Back to wind power sails and galley slaves. Good luck with that. Good luck with any of the nonsense McKibben comes up with.

— Bill Watson (@NDPnomore) December 5, 2018

Row, row, row your boat……..

— Gerrit Max (@gmax0002) December 5, 2018

So its wind power or oars or solar. Oars sounds good, it will reduce unemployment worldwide overnight.

— bigalhaswas ❌ (@bigalhaswas) December 5, 2018

LOL, well then they are out of business.

— Watts Up With That (@wattsupwiththat) December 5, 2018

#sowoke #believeitwheniseeit

— Atlas the Titan (@atlas_thetitan) December 5, 2018

We'll see how this plays out, does anyone remember when Virgin Airlines committed to make 0 emission flights a reality? https://t.co/W9LhYAV2R4

— Ahmed Gaya (@adgaya) December 5, 2018

Seems 2050 is the target for everyone. It’s a good target because anyone who’ll have to take responsibility for the decisions made today will be dead by then. https://t.co/hqc4pJKw1y

— Allan Guty (@AllanJGuty) December 5, 2018

By…2050.

That would be 31 years from now.

So in essence, when no one making such an insane pledge will be around the company to see it not happen. https://t.co/iSmlbK8EGE

— Drew McCoy (@_Drew_McCoy_) December 5, 2018

Many of us will be dead by the time this doesn't happen. https://t.co/yL8cgyUIu3

— David Harsanyi (@davidharsanyi) December 5, 2018

Because I have a personal commitment to combating climate change, I pledge to cut my food and beverage intake to zero by 2080. https://t.co/InbBAe7dUj

— John Ekdahl (@JohnEkdahl) December 5, 2018

This is great news for all of the survivors of the net neutrality repeal and the GOP tax cut.

Related:

California's assembly votes to move state's electricity completely off fossil fuels by 2045 https://t.co/Uwxq5HjnXo

— Twitchy Team (@TwitchyTeam) August 30, 2018