IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v17y2025i7p2936-d1620962.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Decarbonization of Shipping and Progressing Towards Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions to Net Zero: A Bibliometric Analysis

Author

Listed:
  • Mohan Anantharaman

    (Centre for Seafaring and Maritime Operations (CSMO), Australian Maritime College (AMC), Launceston, TAS 7250, Australia)

  • Abdullah Sardar

    (Centre for Seafaring and Maritime Operations (CSMO), Australian Maritime College (AMC), Launceston, TAS 7250, Australia)

  • Rabiul Islam

    (Centre for Seafaring and Maritime Operations (CSMO), Australian Maritime College (AMC), Launceston, TAS 7250, Australia)

Abstract

The International Maritime Organization (IMO) is the regulator for the safety and pollution prevention of ships. They have set an ambitious target of driving International Shipping to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in 2050 by the process of decarbonization of shipping. Decarbonization of shipping is integral to sustainability, as it can reduce GHG emissions and provide a clean environment in a world that is conducive to the good health and well-being of our future kith and kin. Decarbonization of shipping may be achieved using alternate low-carbon fuels, a more efficient ship operation to save energy, or redesigning the ship’s hull. The purpose of this article is to conduct a bibliometric analysis of the research papers conducted in the past decade on the initiatives adopted by the shipping industry to work towards the net-zero goal. This study utilizes the Scopus database, renowned for its extensive collection of scientific papers. Moreover, to analyze and visualize the data, the bibliometric software tools VOSviewer 1.6.20, Bibliometrix 4.4.0, and Harzings’ 8.17.4863 have been used. These tools facilitated the assessment of the research output in this bibliometric study. Our findings reveal a steady increase in publications over the years, with a notable rise in research interest from 2015 onward. The most frequently discussed topics include greenhouse gases, emission control, and energy efficiency, with notable contributions from the United Kingdom, China, and Scandinavian countries. The study also highlights the leading journals publishing about this research area. Future research directions include exploring alternative fuels and more inclusive policy frameworks for maritime decarbonization.

Suggested Citation

  • Mohan Anantharaman & Abdullah Sardar & Rabiul Islam, 2025. "Decarbonization of Shipping and Progressing Towards Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions to Net Zero: A Bibliometric Analysis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(7), pages 1-24, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:7:p:2936-:d:1620962
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/7/2936/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/7/2936/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Ammr M. Khurmy & Ahmad Al Harbi & Abdul Gani Abdul Jameel & Nabeel Ahmad & Usama Ahmed, 2023. "Conversion of Vacuum Residue from Refinery Waste to Cleaner Fuel: Technical and Economic Assessment," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(21), pages 1-28, October.
    2. Bin Meng & Shuiyang Chen & Hercules Haralambides & Haibo Kuang & Lidong Fan, 2023. "Information spillovers between carbon emissions trading prices and shipping markets: A time-frequency analysis," Université Paris1 Panthéon-Sorbonne (Post-Print and Working Papers) hal-04046290, HAL.
    3. Zeeshan Raza & Johan Woxenius, 2023. "Customer‐driven sustainable business practices and their relationships with environmental and business performance—Insights from the European shipping industry," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 32(8), pages 6138-6153, December.
    4. Lindstad, Haakon & Asbjørnslett, Bjørn E. & Strømman, Anders H., 2011. "Reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and cost by shipping at lower speeds," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 39(6), pages 3456-3464, June.
    5. Jieyin Lyu & Fuli Zhou & Yandong He, 2023. "Digital Technique-Enabled Container Logistics Supply Chain Sustainability Achievement," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(22), pages 1-28, November.
    6. Paweł Kołakowski & Mateusz Gil & Krzysztof Wróbel & Yuh-Shan Ho, 2022. "State of play in technology and legal framework of alternative marine fuels and renewable energy systems: a bibliometric analysis," Maritime Policy & Management, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 49(2), pages 236-260, February.
    7. Meng, Bin & Chen, Shuiyang & Haralambides, Hercules & Kuang, Haibo & Fan, Lidong, 2023. "Information spillovers between carbon emissions trading prices and shipping markets: A time-frequency analysis," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 120(C).
    8. Yuen, Kum Fai & Wang, Xueqin & Wong, Yiik Diew & Zhou, Qingji, 2018. "The effect of sustainable shipping practices on shippers’ loyalty: The mediating role of perceived value, trust and transaction cost," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 116(C), pages 123-135.
    9. Balcombe, Paul & Staffell, Iain & Kerdan, Ivan Garcia & Speirs, Jamie F. & Brandon, Nigel P. & Hawkes, Adam D., 2021. "How can LNG-fuelled ships meet decarbonisation targets? An environmental and economic analysis," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 227(C).
    10. Mehrnaz Ashrafi & Tony R. Walker & Gregory M. Magnan & Michelle Adams & Michele Acciaro, 2020. "A review of corporate sustainability drivers in maritime ports: a multi-stakeholder perspective," Maritime Policy & Management, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 47(8), pages 1027-1044, November.
    11. Damoon Razmjooei & Moslem Alimohammadlou & Habib-Allah Ranaei Kordshouli & Kazem Askarifar, 2024. "A bibliometric analysis of the literature on circular economy and sustainability in maritime studies," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 26(3), pages 5509-5536, March.
    12. Anas S. Alamoush & Fabio Ballini & Aykut I. Ölçer, 2021. "Revisiting port sustainability as a foundation for the implementation of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs)," Journal of Shipping and Trade, Springer, vol. 6(1), pages 1-40, December.
    13. Jane Lister, 2015. "Green Shipping: Governing Sustainable Maritime Transport," Global Policy, London School of Economics and Political Science, vol. 6(2), pages 118-129, May.
    14. Bin Meng & Shuiyang Chen & Hercules Haralambides & Haibo Kuang & Lidong Fan, 2023. "Information spillovers between carbon emissions trading prices and shipping markets: A time-frequency analysis," Post-Print hal-04046290, HAL.
    15. Gianandrea Mannarini & Mario Leonardo Salinas & Lorenzo Carelli & Alessandro Fassò, 2022. "How COVID-19 Affected GHG Emissions of Ferries in Europe," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(9), pages 1-19, April.
    16. Styliani Livaniou & Georgios A. Papadopoulos, 2022. "Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) as a Transitional Choice Replacing Marine Conventional Fuels (Heavy Fuel Oil/Marine Diesel Oil), towards the Era of Decarbonisation," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(24), pages 1-14, December.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Chen, Shuiyang & Kuang, Haibo & Bin Meng,, 2024. "The dependence structures between geopolitical risks and energy prices: New evidence from regional heterogeneity and quantile-on-quantile perspective," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 310(C).
    2. Anastasia Christodoulou & Kevin Cullinane, 2024. "The prospects for, and implications of, emissions trading in shipping," Maritime Economics & Logistics, Palgrave Macmillan;International Association of Maritime Economists (IAME), vol. 26(1), pages 168-184, March.
    3. Hercules Haralambides, 2023. "The state-of-play in maritime economics and logistics research (2017–2023)," Maritime Economics & Logistics, Palgrave Macmillan;International Association of Maritime Economists (IAME), vol. 25(3), pages 429-451, September.
    4. Dong, Xiyong & Zhang, John F., 2024. "Heterogeneity of regional carbon emission markets in China: Evidence from multidimensional determinants," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 138(C).
    5. Bin Meng & Shuiyang Chen & Haibo Kuang & Hercules Haralambides & Xin Zhang, 2024. "Advances in risk management: optimum investment portfolios in tanker shipping," Maritime Economics & Logistics, Palgrave Macmillan;International Association of Maritime Economists (IAME), vol. 26(4), pages 572-591, December.
    6. Theodoros Syriopoulos & Efthymios Roumpis & Michael Tsatsaronis, 2023. "Hedging Strategies in Carbon Emission Price Dynamics: Implications for Shipping Markets," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(17), pages 1-27, September.
    7. Meng, Bin & Wei, Bangguo & Yang, Mo & Kuang, Haibo, 2023. "Measuring the time-frequency spillover effect among carbon markets and shipping energy markets: A global perspective," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 128(C).
    8. Zhang-Hangjian Chen & Xiang Gao & Apicha Insuwan, 2023. "Dynamic information spillover between Chinese carbon and stock markets under extreme weather shocks," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 10(1), pages 1-12, December.
    9. Shobande, Olatunji A. & Ogbeifun, Lawrence & Tiwari, Aviral Kumar, 2024. "Extricating the impacts of emissions trading system and energy transition on carbon intensity," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 357(C).
    10. Suneet Singh & Ashish Dwivedi & Saurabh Pratap, 2023. "Sustainable Maritime Freight Transportation: Current Status and Future Directions," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(8), pages 1-23, April.
    11. Alamoush, Anas S. & Ballini, Fabio & Ölçer, Aykut I., 2024. "Management of stakeholders engaged in port energy transition," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 188(C).
    12. Pierre, Cariou & Francesco, Parola & Theo, Notteboom, 2019. "Towards low carbon global supply chains: A multi-trade analysis of CO2 emission reductions in container shipping," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 208(C), pages 17-28.
    13. Nuanphromsakul, Kajohnjak & Szczepańska-Woszczyna, Katarzyna & Kot, Sebastian & Chaveesuk, Singha & Chaiyasoonthorn, Wornchanok, 2022. "Sustainability of Rubber Farmers Cooperatives: Empirical Evaluation of Determining Factors," AGRIS on-line Papers in Economics and Informatics, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Faculty of Economics and Management, vol. 14(4), December.
    14. Spaniol, Matthew J. & Rowland, Nicholas J., 2022. "Business ecosystems and the view from the future: The use of corporate foresight by stakeholders of the Ro-Ro shipping ecosystem in the Baltic Sea Region," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 184(C).
    15. Chandra Prakash Garg & Vishal Kashav & Xuemuge Wang, 2023. "Evaluating sustainability factors of green ports in China under fuzzy environment," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 25(8), pages 7795-7821, August.
    16. Lindstad, Haakon & Bright, Ryan M. & Strømman, Anders H., 2016. "Economic savings linked to future Arctic shipping trade are at odds with climate change mitigation," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 45(C), pages 24-30.
    17. Laima Gerlitz & Christopher Meyer, 2021. "Small and Medium-Sized Ports in the TEN-T Network and Nexus of Europe’s Twin Transition: The Way towards Sustainable and Digital Port Service Ecosystems," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(8), pages 1-24, April.
    18. Lixian Fan & Bingmei Gu, 2019. "Impacts of the Increasingly Strict Sulfur Limit on Compliance Option Choices: The Case Study of Chinese SECA," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(1), pages 1-20, December.
    19. Xing, Hui & Spence, Stephen & Chen, Hua, 2020. "A comprehensive review on countermeasures for CO2 emissions from ships," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 134(C).
    20. Akoh Fabien Yao & Maxime Sèbe & Laura Recuero Virto & Abdelhak Nassiri & Hervé Dumez, 2024. "The effect of LNG bunkering on port competitiveness using multilevel data analysis [L'effet du soutage par GNL sur la compétitivité des ports à l'aide de l'analyse de données à plusieurs niveaux]," Post-Print hal-04611804, HAL.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:7:p:2936-:d:1620962. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.