Our modern consumerist world relies heavily on global shipping, transporting goods from one corner of the globe to another. On the surface, this system appears seamless and affordable. But what if the price tag we see doesn’t reflect the real cost? To us, to workers, and to our planet? Government subsidies, often hidden from public view, prop up fossil fuel industries and the maritime shipping sector, effectively masking the real price we all pay. These subsidies allow the environmental damage and long-term economic consequences of shipping to remain hidden, ultimately harming our planet, our communities, and our national economy.
The Dirty Details about Maritime and Fossil Fuel Subsidies
The International Transport Forum (ITF) at the OECD reports that maritime subsidies are widespread and often fail to deliver value for money. They artificially lower the cost of shipping by keeping fuel prices low and helping companies skirt the actual costs of moving goods across oceans. Meanwhile, fossil fuel subsidies—estimated at $5.9 trillion globally in 2020—continue to swell, as shown in The Climate Center’s “End Fossil Fuel Subsidies” fact sheet. These enormous sums serve as a cushion for dirty fuels, propping up an industry that contributes significantly to greenhouse gas emissions and climate change.
The environmental toll is staggering. NPR reported in 2021 that, despite efforts to end them, fossil fuel subsidies persist, making it harder to phase out polluting fuels. They perpetuate an economic structure that encourages overconsumption, degrades ecosystems, and accelerates global warming. With climate change intensifying severe weather events, rising sea levels, and dwindling biodiversity, the costs to the planet grow increasingly apparent. Yet, these costs aren’t reflected in the price of a T-shirt shipped across the ocean or a gadget delivered to your doorstep.
Critics argue that eliminating fossil fuel subsidies would cause prices to rise, potentially harming consumers. But consider the long-term gain: by removing these handouts, we incentivize bringing manufacturing and jobs back to our soil, along with cleaner, more efficient shipping practices. A more level playing field encourages innovation in green technologies and efficient shipping routes, reducing industry’s carbon footprint. Such reforms would protect our environment for future generations and bolster national economies. As U.S. Climate Envoy John Kerry stated, the continued reliance on “crazy oil subsidies” impedes meaningful climate action. Ending these subsidies could redirect funds to alternative energy development, improving energy security and creating green jobs.
Exposing the Hidden Costs
These issues affect all of us, from the health of our communities to the stability of our economies. That’s why Simply Living invites you to delve deeper into this topic at our upcoming screening of “Freightened: The Real Price of Shipping” this Sunday at noon. The film lays bare the hidden costs of global shipping, challenging the narratives we’ve grown accustomed to and urging us to rethink our consumption patterns and policy structures.
Join us at Studio 35 Cinema & Drafthouse for this eye-opening event. Learn more about the real impacts of shipping and why ending fossil fuel subsidies is a crucial step toward creating a more sustainable world.
Buy your tickets in advance: https://www.studio35.com/tickets/simply-living-presents-freightened
By coming together to watch and learn about these issues, you foster a more informed community and encourage concrete action toward environmental stewardship. Your participation also helps Simply Living fund more events and programming like this. Together, we must demand transparency, oppose harmful subsidies, and shape a more sustainable economy for ourselves and future generations.
The transportation sector contributes heavily to greenhouse gas emissions. Large ships seem ideal for retrofitting using solar, wind, rechargeable batteries, and ultimately hydrogen power sources.
The use of wind sales is increasing in marine shipping. Diesel fuel is still required, of course, but the sales provide a modest reduction in fuel consumption. There are also advances being made in the use of electric motors. Many municipalities in Scandinavia are converting to electric vessels as they upgrade their fleets.