Efficient Ocean Shipping

Provided by: Project Drawdown |Published on: February 6, 2024

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9101112AP

Scientist Reviewed ↗

Synopsis

This resource is currently being revised by Project Drawdown but you can research many of the other solutions in detail on their new Drawdown Explorer page.
This article assesses ocean shipping efficiency as a climate solution, determining that reducing fuel use through slower navigation and various other methods can be an effective and sustainable solution for reducing greenhouse gas levels.
This report provides quantitative data and evidence to analyze the fuel savings, carbon emission reduction, initial cost, and eventual savings of implementing increased shipping efficiency measures.

Related Teaching Resources

Subjects: Mathematics, Engineering

Authors: Project Drawdown

Region: Global

Languages: English

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Teaching Materials

Positives

This reading will support learners in developing their scientific literacy as they read a technical text with domain-specific vocabulary, multiple units of measurement, and a concise tone.
The article encourages students to analyze a climate solution's initial costs and investment compared to the eventual financial and environmental benefits after implementation.
The article includes an excellent visual of global shipping routes, robust data, evidence, and citations to support the stated claims.

Additional Prerequisites

Learners should be familiar with gigaton, the unit used to measure carbon emissions.
Learners should understand fuel efficiency, operating costs, and international commerce.
Use this interactive table of solutions to show students the rankings of solutions by scenario on the Drawdown website and make it easier to understand the relative impact of ocean shipping efficiency.

Differentiation

The information in this article provides the opportunity for interdisciplinary study in engineering and economics by quantifying the different models' economic costs, benefits, and environmental results of increasing ocean shipping efficiency.
To investigate other climate solutions related to transportation, check out the articles on efficient trucks and hybrid cars.
Consider having students discuss any potential social and economic barriers to increased ocean shipping efficiency (such as longer shipping times and substantial capital investment) and talk critically about the viability of this solution.
As an extension, students could investigate the fuel use and efficiency of shipping items via airlines and discuss which products and companies use those shipping methods.

Scientist Notes

Teaching Tips

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Resource Type and Format

About the Partner Provider

Project Drawdown

Project Drawdown is a nonprofit organization that seeks to help the world reach “drawdown”—the future point in time when levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere stop climbing and start to steadily decline. Cities, universities, corporations, philanthropies, policymakers, communities, educators, activists, and more turn to Project Drawdown as they look to advance effective climate action. Project Drawdown resources for educators include the database of Drawdown Solutions, educational video series Climate Solutions 101, the Drawdown Stories initiative, and more.

Scientist Reviewed

This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Our review process ensures that every resource in our library reflects the current state of climate science.

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Efficient Ocean Shipping

Synopsis

Teaching Materials

About the Partner Provider

Scientist Reviewed

Related Teaching Resources