How to clean up the world's dirtiest industry | Joojin Kim

Maritime shipping represents a massive, often overlooked, climate challenge that functions as a critical leverage point for global decarbonization. If treated as a country, the industry would rank as the world’s sixth-largest greenhouse gas emitter, driven by the transport of fossil fuels, the use of dirty bunker fuels, and the reliance on coal-intensive steel for shipbuilding. Climate strategist Joojin Kim identifies East Asia—specifically South Korea—as the central hub for shipbuilding and financial support, making it a strategic target for systemic change. By shifting capital away from fossil fuel-dependent infrastructure and toward clean alternatives like green ammonia and hydrogen-based steel, the industry can transition from a conduit of pollution to a driver of sustainable trade. This approach mirrors successful past efforts to end coal financing, proving that targeted, strategic intervention can catalyze significant emissions reductions across the global economy.