Cruises are an ideal way to take a relaxing holiday and see the world. But the huge ships are causing an environmental crisis in our air and oceans, with just one medium-sized vessel producing as much particulate pollution as a million cars every single day.
That’s because the companies that own the ships have refused to stick to their promises over taking steps to reduce their environmental impact.
Estimates suggest pollution from international shipping causes as many as 50,000 premature deaths a year in Europe -- and that’s 50,000 too many.
Tell cruise operators to stick to their promise to cut pollution on their ships -- now.
Despite promises being made to cut the pollution from cruise ships, a report from German environmental group Nabu found that virtually no steps have been taken in the past year.
The sector promised that 23 ships would now be operating with special soot filters, designed to reduce the particles in emissions which can cause serious health problems. But so far, not a single one is operational.
Nabu looked at a variety of different cruise operators, including Costa, MSC, Royal Carribean and Cunard -- but handed out fail grades to all of them.
We’ve always been effective when we’ve stood up together against big corporations ignoring the environment. SumOfUs members have led the fight in getting dangerous Neonics pesticides banned across the world, and in July our members in Canada stopped a huge LNG plant from being constructed over one of the country’s biggest wild salmon runs.
Now it’s time to take a stand against cruise operators who refuse to stand by their promises to stop ruining our air.
Cruise operators -- stick to your promises and take steps to reduce pollution from your ships.
More information
The Guardian. 5 September 2017.
The Guardian. 3 July 2017.