Carnival Corporation has released its 11th annual sustainability report, expanding on its 2030 goals and setting some ambitious targets for 2050, including achieving carbon-neutral ship operations.
The Sustainable from Ship to Shore report sets out a spate of new goals the company hopes to reach in the near and distant future, focusing on six areas developed using similar categories to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, including climate action, circular economy (waste reduction), sustainable tourism, health and wellbeing, diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI), and biodiversity and conservation.
Following last year’s commitment to reducing its carbon footprint by 40 per cent by 2030, Carnival announced it will now aspire to achieve net carbon-neutral ship operations and 100 per cent fleetwide shore power connection capability by 2050.
If all goes to plan, 2030 should also see Carnival reduce its food waste by 50 per cent, increase its use of advanced wastewater treatment systems to more than 75 per cent and ensure its workforce “reflects the diversity of the world”.
By 2050, the cruise giant said it will aspire to send 100 per cent of its waste to waste-to-energy facilities, reuse near 100 per cent of its packaging materials, build zero-emission ships, and be a world leader in sustainable tourism and employee wellbeing.
“At Carnival Corporation, our highest responsibility and top priority is always compliance, environmental protection and the health, safety and wellbeing of our guests, the people in the communities we touch and serve, and our shipboard and shoreside personnel,” said Bill Burke, chief maritime officer at Carnival.
“This comprehensive set of 2030 goals and aspirations for 2050 being introduced for the first time reaffirm our ongoing commitment to sustainability, and will guide our actions to further strengthen sustainability performance throughout all aspects of our global operations, while supporting opportunities for sustainable growth across our organization over time.”
Carnival is still on probation for violating environmental regulations including air emissions, discharges to the sea, pollution prevention equipment maintenance and operation and recordkeeping, which is copped millions of dollars in fines for in 2019.
