Royal Caribbean Group has set forth another huge goal in its sustainability journey — a program it’s calling Destination Net Zero.
The comprehensive decarbonization strategy includes a pledge to establish Science-Based Targets and achieve net zero emissions by 2050.
“Decades ago, we set out on a course to advance sustainability; our vision now is to realize carbon-free cruising over the next two decades,” said Richard Fain, chairman and CEO, Royal Caribbean Group. “Today we are announcing the most important destination of all in our company’s history – Destination Net Zero – an ambitious strategy to cut emissions, protect our oceans, and ensure the viability of the hundreds of destinations that our guests and crew members care deeply about.”
Over 18 to 24 months, the company will develop goals to be validated by the Science Based Targets initiative, the first such pledge for the cruise industry. Science-based targets show companies how much, and how quickly, they need to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions to help limit global warming.
Along the way, key milestone goals will be set. One of the most ambitious is the delivery of a net zero cruise ship by 2035.
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The company’s focus on achieving these goals builds on its track record of already-efficient ships. Royal Caribbean Group has consistently delivered a new generation of vessels that are 20-25 percent more efficient than their predecessors.
From Silversea Cruises’ “Project Evolution” — the industry’s first hybrid-powered ship set to debut in summer 2023 — to the wind farm in Kansas that will offset up to 12 percent of the company’s scope 1 and 2 emissions per year, Royal Caribbean Group is already executing its strategy.
Destination Net Zero’s four-part approach includes:
- Modernization of its global brands fleet through the introduction of 13 new energy-efficient and alternatively-fueled vessels, including Silversea’s “Project Evolution”
- Continued investment in energy efficiency programs for its fleet, including energy-saving technologies, enhanced data systems, and digitalization
- Development of alternative fuel and alternative power solutions
- Optimized deployment and integration of strategic shore-based supply chains
“Destination Net Zero will help guide our decision-making in the years to come and builds on Royal Caribbean Group’s continuous improvement mantra,” said Silvia Garrigo, Royal Caribbean Group chief Environmental Social Governance (ESG) Officer. “While we may not have all the answers now, this comprehensive company-wide strategy amplifies our focus on long-term emissions reduction and provides us a roadmap for how to get there.”
To learn more about Royal Caribbean Groups sustainability efforts, visit sustainability.rclcorporate.com.
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