Cruise company announces it will be carbon neutral by 2020

MSC Cruises on Friday announced that it hopes to become carbon neutral by 2020. 

Executive Chairman Pierfrancesco Vago said in a statement that the company will commit to make sure that “our fleet makes no negative contribution to climate change, starting January 1, 2020.”

{mosads}The statement said that MSC hopes to offset its carbon emissions through projects such as restoring ocean and coastal habitats. 

“Blue carbon offsets will be a specific area of focus of our commitment to ensure carbon neutrality with immediate effect,” Vago said. 

He also said the company had achieved a 29 percent reduction in carbon rate by 2024 and aims to meet a 40 percent reduction target by 2030. 

The company has also unveiled its MSC Grandiosa ship, which it described as “one of the most environmentally-advanced ships at sea.”

Many companies have begun using carbon offsets in an attempt to reduce their carbon footprint. Royal Caribbean Cruises will reportedly try to offset up to 12 percent of its emissions starting next year. A 2016 Forest Trends report found that 248 companies including Delta Air Lines, Qantas and General Motors had purchased offsets.