Shipping Nexus
At the intersection of climate, biodiversity loss, pollution and justice & equity
Background
The core of the shipping nexus focuses on the need for shipping solutions that address the interconnected planetary crises of pollution, climate change, and biodiversity loss in a just and equitable framework.
The Equal Routes report Navigating the Future: Bridging Shipping, Biodiversity and Decarbonization outlined this approach and was the basis of a paper submitted to the International Maritime Organization (IMO) in 2024.
The shipping nexus framework elevates biodiversity and pollution concerns to the same level of urgency as climate actions. A central recommendation is the creation of a high-level task force, modelled after the IMO’s Maritime Just Transition Task Force, to explore these critical issues and propose actionable steps forward.
We aim to implement ocean-centric solutions that are regenerative, resilient, just, and equitable for both people and nature, with shipping as a vital component.
Goals
To catalyze expertise and capacity to bring research, community perspectives, policy ingenuity and creativity to the intersection of environmental, social, political and artistic work to urgently tackle these issues.
Creating more Particularly Sensitive Sea Areas (PSSAs) and adoption of green corridors
Designating Emission Control Areas (ECAs) everywhere
Reducing underwater radiated noise
Improving ballast water and hull fouling regulations
Eliminating pollutants like scrubber wastewater
Improving efficiency
Reducing black carbon from shipping in the Arctic
Key Activities and Resources:
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Navigating the Future: Bridging Shipping, Biodiversity, and Decarbonization
Report on the urgency of addressing the triple planetary crisis - pollution, climate change and biodiversity loss - in the context of shipping just and equitable solutions.
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A Study of the Potential Impacts of LNG Development on Marine Mammals in the Gulf of California
Projected increases in LNG tanker traffic could affect regional air quality, underwater noise levels, and marine mammal populations—particularly whales—in the GoC.
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Ballast Water from LNG Tankers: Policy Gaps and Environmental Risks
Policy recommendations for ballast water, biofouling, and invasive species modelling to be included in place-based environmental assessments and to inform the ongoing reform of the Ballast Water Management Convention and biofouling framework.
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Charting Course to a Quiet Ocean Noise
Utilizing targeted interviews with experts actively engaged in Underwater Radiated Noise (URN) related work, alongside a review of available data and relevant case studies, to generate insights into how URN reductions can be achieved.
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Biofouling at the Intersection of Climate Change, Pollution and Biodiversity Loss
Policy recommendations to the IMO on biofouling risks and how a legally binding framework for its control and management can ensure co-benefits to climate, biodiversity and people.
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Shipping at the Intersection of Climate, Biodiversity and Pollution at the IMO
NGOs with consultative status at the International Maritime Organization (IMO) submitted a paper in 2024 based on the Equal Routes report Navigating the Future: Bridging Shipping, Biodiversity, and Decarbonization.
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Danish Example Shows Canadian Ships Can Sail Without Ocean-Polluting Scrubbers
Press Release: Canada has the opportunity to follow Denmark’s decision to ban the discharge of waste from scrubbers– devices installed on board ships to cut air pollution, and from which toxic effluent is dumped into the marine environment.
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Port of Churchill Offers a Chance for an Arctic Shipping Green Corridor
Op-Ed in Canada’s National Observer: Churchill has the potential to chart an ambitious path for Canada: one that prioritizes people and biodiversity over the economic gain of a few, showing how shipping can be structured around local communities, wildlife, and the environment.
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Identification and Protection of Special Areas, ECAS and PSSAs
Policy recommendations calling for strengthening ofthe IMO’s Particularly Sensitive Sea Areas (PSSA) framework to better protect marine biodiversity, align with the BBNJ Agreement, and advance equity in ocean governance.
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Efficiency May Be the One-size-fits-all Solution for Marine Shipping
Op-Ed in the National Observer: Reforming the International Maritime Organization Carbon Intensity Indicator (CII) can incentivize shipping efficiency and help solve the triple planetary crisis of climate, pollution, and biodiversity.
