Alaska Cruise Lines Urged to Ditch Fossil Fuels for Sustainable Alternatives

Environmental NGOs are calling on cruise lines and ports along the Alaska cruise route to reject the use of fossil gas, citing the impact on fragile ecosystems and critical habitats for killer whales. The vessels traveling along this route are known for their high levels of pollution, with cruise lines increasingly turning to fracked gas as a marine fuel. The urgency to address climate disruption in British Columbia, marked by wildfires and heat waves, has led to the introduction of green methanol marine fuel for the Alaska green cruise corridor.

Anna Barford from Stand.earth emphasized the need for concrete actions to transition towards sustainable marine practices, urging the abandonment of fossil gas in favor of green alternatives. Activists are advocating for a sector-wide transformation, including the elimination of sewage and fossil fuel waste discharges, and investment in zero-emission vessel fuels and technologies. Despite the positive step of introducing green methanol, concerns remain about the long-term decarbonization target allowing continued pollution.

Karla Hart from the Global Cruise Activist Network highlighted the immediate need for the shipping industry and regulators to address current air and water pollution, criticizing the reliance on cheap, dirty fuels until 2050. With the Alaska cruise industry rapidly growing over the past decade, the concentration of cruise ships in environmentally rich waters is overwhelming local communities and contributing to pollution of air and waters with fossil fuels.

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