Friends of the Earth, a non-governmental environmental organization, has released its 2024 Cruise Ship Report Card. This report card compares the environmental footprint of 21 major cruise lines and 243 cruise ships according to four environmental criteria: sewage treatment, air pollution reduction, water quality/scrubber use and transparency. The purpose of the grading system is to determine “Is clean cruising possible?”
Topping the list of most environmentally friendly cruise lines is Hurtigruten and HX, which tied with a B+ final grade. Each received identical scores of a C for sewage treatment, A for air pollution reduction, N/A for water quality/scrubber use and an A for transparency.
“The cruise industry has long been a significant polluter, and progress toward further action on sustainability has been too slow. Comprehensive evaluations like this are essential for holding our industry accountable, and we are proud to be recognized as the top-ranked operator,” said Hurtigruten CEO Hedda Felin. “This achievement reflects our unwavering commitment to setting a higher standard for more sustainable travel. We don’t claim perfection, but progress.”
Disney Cruise Line was the only other company to receive a B grade or higher. Seabourn, Cunard, Carnival Cruise Line, P&O Cruises and Costa Cruises all received an F.
According to Friends of the Earth, “cruising remains one of the most harmful forms of travel to the environment and human health. Scientists estimate that the cruise industry discharges approximately 1.5 gigatons of toxic exhaust gas scrubber wastewater annually.” Friends of the Earth adds that liquefied natural gas (LNG), which is being used to power new and bigger ships “is a greenwashing fuel source that furthers the climate footprint of these behemoths, creating more air pollution rather than using safer and less polluting fuel sources.”
It adds: “As a 2023 analysis from Friends of the Earth shows, the average vacationer increases their carbon footprint by eight times by stepping onto a cruise ship.”
Source: Friends of the Earth
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