How to Clean Up the World’s Dirtiest Industry | Joojin Kim | TED

Despite climate change challenges, a shift towards a climate solution-based economy is underway, driven by profitability and practicality. Solving the problem requires strategic focus on systems that create ripple effects, with shipping being a powerful, often overlooked lever. If shipping were a country, it would be the sixth-largest greenhouse gas emitter. Maritime shipping contributes to climate problems in three ways: transporting fossil fuels (crude oil, gas, LNG), burning heavy fuel oils and LNG, and using steel made with dirty coal. East Asia, particularly South Korea, dominates global shipbuilding and steel production for ships. This region is at a critical juncture, deciding whether to fund fossil fuels or pivot to clean alternatives like offshore wind installation vessels and green ammonia tankers. Organizations like Solutions for Our Climate are working to align policy, finance, and regulation to make clean options attractive. Their strategy involves exposing emissions and financial risks, redirecting capital away from fossil fuel expansion (e.g., making LNG a no-investment zone), and building markets for clean alternatives like green shipping fuels and clean steel. They have a track record of success with coal and are now launching "Navigate to Clean" to transform maritime shipping. Their goal is to eliminate up to 2.2 gigatons of emissions annually by 2032, moving a hidden engine of the global economy towards a cleaner future.