An essential, but polluting sector Maritime transport is the backbone of global trade. In 2023, nearly 13 billion tons of goods were transported by sea—a volume four times greater than in the 1970s . This explosive growth illustrates the strategic importance of the sector, but also its growing environmental impact. If we compare CO₂ emissions per tonne transported, maritime transport remains the most economical of the major modes of transport: 12 to 13 g of CO₂ per tonne-ki