Maritime industry leaders, including ZEMBA and Katalist, are calling on the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) to formally recognize and support indirect mitigation approaches in its updated Net-Zero Strategy. This collective push highlights the critical role of mechanisms like Book & Claim in accelerating emissions reductions and driving investment in clean energy solutions for one of the world’s hardest-to-abate sectors.
Washington, D.C., June 4, 2025 — In a significant stride toward accelerating maritime decarbonization, the Zero Emission Maritime Buyers Alliance (ZEMBA) and Katalist jointly brought together 13 pioneering organizations to advocate for the critical role of indirect mitigation in achieving net-zero emissions across the maritime sector. The convening—timed with the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi)’s revision of its Corporate Net Zero Standard 2.0—spotlighted indirect mechanisms like Book & Claim systems as indispensable tools in bridging current investment gaps in low-emission shipping technologies.
Maritime First Movers Speak with One Voice
This first-of-its-kind gathering included major players like A.P. Møller – Mærsk A/S, Liquid Wind, NORDEN, Patagonia, Swire Shipping Pte. Ltd., Swire Bulk Pte. Ltd., Tchibo, and Unifeeder A/S, all of whom presented a united front on the necessity of enabling indirect emissions reduction strategies.
These organizations jointly submitted feedback as part of the public consultation for SBTi’s draft Net Zero Standard 2.0. Their key argument: indirect mitigation is not only necessary but urgent, especially given the technical and commercial barriers surrounding direct abatement in shipping.
“Patagonia views indirect mitigation—reducing greenhouse gas emissions in our supply chain—as a necessary component of our strategy to achieve net zero by 2040,” said Kim Drenner, Director of Supply Chain Environmental Impact at Patagonia. “This approach supports collective action, encourages policy, and enables targeted investment in technologies like e-fuels and renewable energy adoption.”
Book & Claim: A Catalyst for Change
One of the central themes in the discussion was the role of Book & Claim mechanisms. These allow companies to purchase emissions reductions without needing a direct contractual relationship with the clean fuel provider—a flexible, scalable model that can accelerate market creation for next-generation maritime fuels.
“Book & Claim solutions play a vital role in accelerating the adoption of low-carbon fuels across the maritime industry,” noted Henrik Røjel, Head of Decarbonisation & Climate Solutions at NORDEN. “By helping to secure demand, they contribute to unlocking the investments required to scale production and deployment of alternative fuels.”
For the first time, the SBTi’s draft Net Zero Standard acknowledges this form of mitigation as a legitimate part of corporate decarbonization strategies, a move hailed by industry stakeholders as a long-overdue recognition of maritime realities.
Sector-Specific Solutions for Hard-to-Abate Industries
As one of the world’s most carbon-intensive and globally interlinked sectors, maritime transport faces unique decarbonization challenges. Fuel availability, transparency issues, and fragmented supply chains limit direct emissions cuts—especially in the short term. This makes credible, traceable indirect mitigation pathways critical to building early-stage investment momentum.
ZEMBA and Katalist, supported by their 13 partners, emphasized that clearer language and support from SBTi in the final version of Net Zero Standard 2.0 will help institutionalize indirect mitigation. This would, in turn, attract the capital necessary to scale scalable fuels like green methanol, ammonia, and other e-fuels.
“Voluntary private sector action is crucial, but it must be underpinned by credible, science-aligned standards,” stated representatives from ZEMBA. “With SBTi’s guidance, we can better mobilize industry-wide support for emissions abatement in hard-to-abate sectors like shipping.”
SBTi’s Evolving Net-Zero Standard Recognizes Indirect Mitigation as Crucial for Maritime Decarbonization
The Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) plays a pivotal role in shaping credible corporate climate strategies by aligning greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets with the latest climate science. As a collaboration between CDP, the UN Global Compact, World Resources Institute (WRI), and WWF, SBTi has become the global standard-setter for net-zero commitments, with over 5,000 companies worldwide adopting its framework.
The current revision of its Corporate Net-Zero Standard (version 2.0) is particularly significant for the maritime sector, as it marks the first time the SBTi has acknowledged the importance of indirect mitigation measures—such as Book & Claim systems—as valid components of a company’s net-zero journey. This evolution in guidance is critical for hard-to-abate industries like shipping, where direct mitigation options remain limited in the near term.
About Katalist
Katalist, developed by the Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller Center for Zero Carbon Shipping and RMI, is a non-profit platform providing independent, transparent decarbonization solutions. It serves as a catalyst for sustainable shipping practices, helping companies decarbonize their logistics and value chains through scalable and credible emissions reduction pathways.
About ZEMBA
ZEMBA, a non-profit buyers’ alliance launched by the Aspen Institute’s Energy and Environment Program, aims to pool demand for zero-emission shipping solutions. With over 45 member companies and growing, ZEMBA’s model is to aggregate freight buyer demand through competitive clean shipping procurements, enabling economies of scale and delivering meaningful climate impact beyond what individual cargo owners could achieve alone.