Carnival Corporation emits more CO2 than Glasgow

In 2023, Carnival Corporation, the world's largest cruise line company, was identified as the most polluting cruise company in Europe, surpassing carbon emissions of 2.6 million metric tons. This alarming figure equated its emissions to be greater than those produced by Glasgow, revealing the environmental impact of the cruise industry. These findings emerged from a report by the Transport and Environment (T&E) campaign group, which analyzed emissions data from vessels sailing in the European Economic Area, as mandated by EU regulations. The increase in cruise ships, which have doubled in size over the last two decades, has exacerbated carbon emissions, mainly due to the larger fleets operated by companies like Carnival. Despite investing hundreds of millions in cleaner technologies, concerns remain over their continued use of scrubbers, which prevent air pollution but convert it to water pollution, contributing to environmental degradation. Friends of the Earth (FoE) rated Carnival poorly, highlighting the company's practices as harmful to marine ecosystems. The cruise sector's rapid growth calls for stronger accountability and commitment to environmental sustainability from major players like Carnival, MSC, and Norwegian Cruise Line.