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Shipping decarbonization and public emergencies: How does COVID-19 impact container shipping carbon emissions?

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  • Tang, Zhaopei
  • Wang, Liehui

Abstract

Shipping carbon emissions is becoming increasingly susceptible to emergency events, with the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) exerting one of the most long-lasting effects. Clarifying the impact of COVID-19 on shipping carbon emissions is crucial for reducing and decarbonizing the shipping industry and controlling global climate change. This study utilizes the automatic identification system and socio-economic data to measure global containerized carbon emissions with the help of the bottom-up method, explores the impact of COVID-19 on carbon emissions based on the “global-regional-national-port” multi-scale, and conducts empirical tests with the help of the between-within model. Globally, container shipping carbon emissions increased over 50 % compared with those of 2019, with four spatial hotpots. Regionally, carbon emissions increased most significantly in the Panama Canal, Strait of Gibraltar, and Black Sea Strait. On a national scale, the differences in carbon emissions from containerized maritime transport between countries have narrowed compared to before the COVID-19 outbreak, with head country primacy decreasing. At the port level, the effects of COVID-19 show significant heterogeneity: emissions decreased at the ports in Northern Europe but increased in Asian. The number of new COVID-19 cases in the origin or destination country significantly increased container shipping carbon emissions, with variations depending on geographical locations and economic development levels.

Suggested Citation

  • Tang, Zhaopei & Wang, Liehui, 2025. "Shipping decarbonization and public emergencies: How does COVID-19 impact container shipping carbon emissions?," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 123(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jotrge:v:123:y:2025:i:c:s0966692325000158
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jtrangeo.2025.104124
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