Navigating Zero - Global Trade’s Powerful Wave of Change

ZeroNorth

There’s no denying we are facing a climate crisis, and all industries must do their part to reach zero emissions. Maritime trade is critical to today’s society but is also responsible for roughly 3% of all greenhouse gas emissions. A future where global trade reaches zero carbon emissions is possible, but how do we actually get there? Navigating Zero - Global Trade’s Powerful Wave of Change is a podcast from ZeroNorth that explores exactly that. In each episode, Lora Jakobsen, Chief Sustainability Officer at Zero North, speaks with global thought leaders inside and outside the shipping industry to build a greener future together. They’ll unpack everything from the economics of decarbonisation in maritime shipping and global trade, to green energy innovations, from sustainable shipping logistics to digitalisation, data sharing and regulation in the industry. Previous guests include leaders building the conversation around a greener future, such as Danny Lang (ex-Vice President of Business Intelligence at Google), Robert Mærsk Uggla (Chairman of the board directors of Maersk, CEO of A.P. Møller Holding) and Rasmus Nordqvist of the EU Parliament. After two successful seasons, Navigating Zero will be returning for Season 3, to spotlight the industry’s most innovative trailblazers – the architects of change who are rebuilding the maritime trade ecosystem from the inside out. Featuring voices like Alexander Saverys, CEO of CMB.Tech, Johannah Christensen from GMF, and Julian Bray, former Editor-in-Chief of TradeWinds, as we explore what transformation really looks like in practice. About Lora Jakobsen: Lora Jakobsen is ZeroNorth’s Chief Sustainability Officer and one of the organisation’s founding members. She specialises in technology, growth and sustainability strategy, and is on a mission to accelerate the maritime shift towards sustainability in global trade. Lora brings clarity and challenge to every conversation, grounding the show in a commitment to finding new and better ways. About ZeroNorth: ZeroNorth is a technology leader committed to accelerating the energy transition in global shipping. Founded in 2020, we have grown from being a team of six to 600 employees across 10 global locations. We are at the forefront of the decarbonisation movement, leveraging technology and data as enablers to drive immediate reductions in emissions — critical steps towards achieving long-term sustainability goals in the maritime industry. Learn more at: https://zeronorth.com/

  1. 3天前

    Season 3, Episode 4: What now? After the IMO, the critical role of fuel suppliers in the energy transition with Maria Skipper Schwenn from Bunker Holding.

    When the International Maritime Organization (IMO) postponed adoption of its long-awaited Net Zero Framework this October, the decision shook up power dynamics and strategies across the industry. In this episode, we unpack what happened inside and outside the negotiation room, and what it means for shipping’s path to zero emissions.  Beyond regulatory frameworks, this conversation highlights the pivotal role of the bunker sector in making low-carbon fuels viable and accelerating the shipping industry's energy transition. Joining Lora in conversation is Maria Skipper Schwenn, Director of Public Affairs at Bunker Holding. Maria has a breadth of experience on both sides of the table: in political and commercial associations, in Brussels, for Danish Shipping, and at Bunker Holding, the world’s largest bunker supplier.  In today’s episode, she will share her experience from inside the Marine Environment Protection Committee meeting and the geopolitical pressures that upended the vote. She explains how procedural tactics reshaped the approval process, and why the industry will now have to rely on a patchwork of regional measures to accelerate the decarbonisation of shipping.  Beyond the IMO, we also discuss how the bunker sector plays a critical role in providing low-carbon fuels, investments, and innovation to drive the energy transition. The marine market is still new for many alternative fuel producers, so suppliers like Bunker Holding are playing a critical part to build new partnerships and deliver biofuels safely and reliably to ports worldwide.  Maria will unpack this work, and share her vision for what progress looks like in the industry now: driving new technical collaboration, supporting first movers investing in green fuels, and cultivating a generational shift in leadership to push for greater transparency and impact. Because no matter the voting outcome, today and tomorrow, the work continues. About Maria Skipper Schwenn: LinkedIn About Bunker Holding: Website About the SASHA Coalition: Website About ZeroNorth: Website About Lora Jakobsen: LinkedIn Subscribe to the Navigating Zero Newsletter

    27 分钟
  2. 10月20日

    Season 3, Episode 3: The Argument for Regulatory Ambition, with Aoife O’Leary, from Opportunity Green

    In this episode, host Lora Jakobsen sits down with Aoife O’Leary, the CEO and founder of Opportunity Green, about why regulation could be the key to achieving zero.  Drawing on her extensive background in law, and her work bringing together policy and technical experts with economists, and lawyers, Aoife makes a case for ambition in regulation, arguing that the industry’s decarbonisation challenge isn’t just technological or financial; it’s systemic. Dive into this daring conversation to find out how a spirit of global cooperation can make transformation possible. This episode explores a spectrum of perspectives on the regulatory question. From the science-based view that business can reach better certainty with bold commitment, to a realistic outlook on the industry, for which global frameworks are a complex task.  Together, we explore where revenues from carbon pricing could help the most; why support for fuels like hydrogen, methanol, and ammonia are crucial; and whether it’s possible to rethink what and how we ship in a more circular global economy. Aoife also shares how existing laws like MARPOL can be reinterpreted to accelerate change without waiting for new treaties. About Aoife O’Leary: LinkedIn About Opportunity Green: Website About the SASHA Coalition: Website About ZeroNorth: Website About Lora Jakobsen: LinkedIn Subscribe to the Navigating Zero Newsletter

    28 分钟
  3. 10月1日

    Season 3, Episode 2: Future-proofing Maritime - Today’s Leadership is Tomorrow’s Competitive Advantage with Alexander Saverys

    In this episode, host Lora Jakobsen speaks with Alexander Saverys, CEO of CMB.TECH, about what it means to truly future-proof shipping. Alexander Saverys is a leader who isn’t afraid to take risks. With seven generations of family history in maritime, he has transformed the Compagnie Martime Belge from a traditional shipowner into one of the most forward-thinking players in the industry, betting early on hydrogen and ammonia as fuels of the future. And it paid off. Today, CMB.TECH is building its own clean fuel supply chain in Namibia, and the cultural changes at play inside the organisation are just as critical as technological ones. From major acquisitions like Golden Ocean to pioneering new vessel designs, Alexander’s strategy balances decarbonisation with diversification. In this episode, Lora and Alexander unpack this vision, discuss how regulation and technology are reshaping the cost of low-carbon shipping, and reflect on how flexibility can help us shift towards renewables, through retrofitting, hybrid engines, and customer choice. Future-proofing shipping isn’t just about cleaner fuels, it’s about rethinking the whole system: the energy we produce, the technology we adopt, the culture we foster, and the partnerships we build.  This episode is a reminder that a new propulsion revolution is just around the corner. Join this conversation to find out how investing now will determine who thrives in the decades ahead. About Alexander Saverys: LinkedIn About CMB.TECH: Website About Zero North: Website About Lora Jakobsen: LinkedIn Subscribe to the Navigating Zero Newsletter Sources: Euronav’s Annual Report 2023 - QuarterlyticsAbout Cleanergy Solutions Namibia - CMB.TECHHow does adding 91 fossil fuel-burning bulkers fit into CMB.TECH’s green shipping strategy? - TradeWinds

    30 分钟
  4. 9月15日

    Season 3, Episode 1: Industry Practices & Resilience in the Age of Uncertainty, with Julian Bray from TradeWinds

    After laying the groundwork in its first two seasons, Navigating Zero returns for Season 3, with a bold new focus: rebuilding the maritime ecosystem from within. We’ve identified the origins of the zero carbon movement, and the engines of change; now it’s time to make new connections, to transform our industry.  In this season opener, host Lora Jakobsen, Chief Sustainability Officer at ZeroNorth, speaks with Julian Bray, Editor-in-Chief of Tradewinds and Publisher at Dagens Næringsliv. With decades of experience shaping the conversation around global shipping, Julian offers a unique vantage point on the maritime industry's ongoing evolution.  In our conversation today, we offer a picture of the current maritime landscape, with its innovations and challenges, and define what we need to navigate what Julian calls the “age of uncertainty.”  This episode explores what's fundamentally new in future-proofing strategies compared to five years ago. We unpack how the shipping industry is responding to turbulence: from geopolitical instability and supply chain disruptions to the urgent push for emission cuts; and Julian explains how resilience has taken on new meaning for the industry, shifting from simply weathering market cycles to adapting to regulatory, technological, and financial complexity.  He also highlights the importance of making a clear business case for sustainability, and the critical role cargo owners will play in accelerating real change.  Along the way, we also discuss the impact of eco zones and the so-called “dark fleet” on global trade routes, and what the next 15 years of maritime trade could look like as retrofitting, automation, and cultural change take hold.  Tune into this wide-ranging and pragmatic conversation to find out why uncertainty can be an opportunity. About Julian Bray: LinkedIn About TradeWinds: Website About Zero North: Website About Lora Jakobsen: LinkedIn Subscribe to the Navigating Zero Newsletter Sources: Nor Shipping 2025: International Shipping at the Crossroads of Geopolitics and Green Transition - TO BHMA International EditionRussia’s ‘shadow fleet’ will prove resilient - Oxford Analytica

    35 分钟
  5. 2024/12/16

    Season 2, Episode 10: Banking's Role in Maritime Sustainability with Michael Parker and Paul Taylor

    Banks play a pivotal role in advancing the green transition within the shipping industry. But how can these two critical sectors collaborate more effectively and foster greater transparency? In this episode, Lora Jakobsen, Chief Sustainability Officer at ZeroNorth, engages in a compelling discussion with Michael Parker, Global Head of Shipping at Citigroup, and Paul Taylor, Global Head of Maritime Industries at Société Générale. Both Michael and Paul serve as key leaders within the Poseidon Principles’ steering group, with Michael acting as Chair and Paul as Vice Chair. Together, they explore how strategic dialogue and collaboration can drive meaningful change, the role of expanded regulations in enabling green infrastructure, and the ways banking and shipping can jointly contribute to the industry's decarbonization goals. Michael and Paul highlight how transparency initiatives like the Poseidon Principles are reshaping industry dynamics, enabling strategic dialogue between banks and shipowners, and fostering accountability to meet global climate targets.   The discussion also explores challenges and opportunities in green financing, from barriers like limited EU taxonomy-compliant vessels to the potential of sustainability-linked loans to drive change. Insights into alternative fuels such as green methanol and ammonia, and technologies like carbon capture, reveal both progress and complexity. Through initiatives like green market makers and forums such as COP and the Global Maritime Forum, the guests stress that collaboration and innovative funding mechanisms are vital to bridging gaps and accelerating the maritime industry’s sustainable transformation.   The world is in a climate crisis, and all industries must do their part to reach zero emissions. Maritime trade is critical to today's society but is responsible for roughly 3% of all greenhouse gas emissions. A future where global trade reaches zero emissions is possible. But how do we get there? In this podcast, we're sitting down with thought leaders to explore the inner workings of global trade, its massive impact on our society, and the obstacles it faces while navigating its way to zero. About Michael Parker: BioAbout Paul Taylor: LinkedIn About the Poseidon Principles: Website About the Poseidon Principles Annual Disclosure Report: Website About ZeroNorth: Website About Lora Jakobsen: LinkedIn Subscribe to the Navigating Zero Newsletter Sources: The Definitive Study on Lifecycle Analysis for LNG as a Marine Fuel - SEA-LNG Do you know what methane slip is? - SAFETY4SEA Managing methane slip on ME-GI installations - MAN Energy Solutions Annual Progress Report on Green Shipping Corridors: 2024 Edition - Getting To Zero Coalition

    39 分钟
  6. 2024/11/18

    Season 2, Episode 8: Pragmatism as a Strategy in the Energy Transition with Mikael Skov

    Tanker markets are highly influenced by geopolitical upheaval and macro-economic trends. In such a volatile environment, how can companies meet current demands, while staying on track advancing the energy transition?  In this episode, Lora Jakobsen, Chief Sustainability Officer at ZeroNorth, sits down with Mikael Skov, CEO of Hafnia, one of the world’s leading product tanker companies. Mikael has almost 40 years of experience in the shipping industry, and spent 25 years at TORM, before founding Hafnia Tankers in 2013. Lora and Mikael take a deep dive into his pragmatic yet hopeful approach to the energy transition, emphasising the importance of technology solutions and digital infrastructures to make measurable improvements to current assets while working alongside customers for a long-term transition. They also discuss how market leaders driving technological developments can benefit smaller organisations and the industry at large. The world is in a climate crisis, and all industries must do their part to reach zero emissions. Maritime trade is critical to today's society but is responsible for roughly 3% of all greenhouse gas emissions. A future where global trade reaches zero emissions is possible. But how do we get there? In this podcast, we're sitting down with thought leaders to explore the inner workings of global trade, its massive impact on our society, and the obstacles it faces while navigating its way to zero. About Mikael Skov: LinkedIn Listen to Dual-Fuel Engines and the Green Transition with Bjarne Foldager About ZeroNorth: Website About Lora Jakobsen: LinkedIn Subscribe to the Navigating Zero Newsletter

    28 分钟
  7. 2024/09/30

    Season 2, Episode 7: European Parliament and The Green Transition with Rasmus Nordqvist

    A pragmatic, collaborative approach to politics – one that fosters cooperation between political parties, committees, and the private sector – can drive meaningful change. In this episode, Lora Jakobsen, Chief Sustainability Officer at ZeroNorth, sits down with Rasmus Nordqvist, a newly elected member of the European Parliament for the Danish Socialist People’s Party (SF). Rasmus, who was first elected to the Danish National Parliament in 2015 as a member of The Alternative, a green and pro-European party, joined SF in 2021. Lora and Rasmus explore his cross-sector collaborations, the role of parliamentary committees in advancing the green transition, and what it is like behind the scenes in the European Parliament. The world is in a climate crisis, and all industries must do their part to reach zero emissions. Maritime trade is critical to today's society but is responsible for roughly 3% of all greenhouse gas emissions. A future where global trade reaches zero emissions is possible. But how do we get there? In this podcast, we're sitting down with thought leaders to explore the inner workings of global trade, its massive impact on our society, and the obstacles it faces while navigating its way to zero. About Rasmus Nordqvist: Bio Listen to Planetary Commons with Professor Katherine Richardson About ZeroNorth: Website About Lora Jakobsen: LinkedIn Subscribe to the Navigating Zero Newsletter

    25 分钟

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There’s no denying we are facing a climate crisis, and all industries must do their part to reach zero emissions. Maritime trade is critical to today’s society but is also responsible for roughly 3% of all greenhouse gas emissions. A future where global trade reaches zero carbon emissions is possible, but how do we actually get there? Navigating Zero - Global Trade’s Powerful Wave of Change is a podcast from ZeroNorth that explores exactly that. In each episode, Lora Jakobsen, Chief Sustainability Officer at Zero North, speaks with global thought leaders inside and outside the shipping industry to build a greener future together. They’ll unpack everything from the economics of decarbonisation in maritime shipping and global trade, to green energy innovations, from sustainable shipping logistics to digitalisation, data sharing and regulation in the industry. Previous guests include leaders building the conversation around a greener future, such as Danny Lang (ex-Vice President of Business Intelligence at Google), Robert Mærsk Uggla (Chairman of the board directors of Maersk, CEO of A.P. Møller Holding) and Rasmus Nordqvist of the EU Parliament. After two successful seasons, Navigating Zero will be returning for Season 3, to spotlight the industry’s most innovative trailblazers – the architects of change who are rebuilding the maritime trade ecosystem from the inside out. Featuring voices like Alexander Saverys, CEO of CMB.Tech, Johannah Christensen from GMF, and Julian Bray, former Editor-in-Chief of TradeWinds, as we explore what transformation really looks like in practice. About Lora Jakobsen: Lora Jakobsen is ZeroNorth’s Chief Sustainability Officer and one of the organisation’s founding members. She specialises in technology, growth and sustainability strategy, and is on a mission to accelerate the maritime shift towards sustainability in global trade. Lora brings clarity and challenge to every conversation, grounding the show in a commitment to finding new and better ways. About ZeroNorth: ZeroNorth is a technology leader committed to accelerating the energy transition in global shipping. Founded in 2020, we have grown from being a team of six to 600 employees across 10 global locations. We are at the forefront of the decarbonisation movement, leveraging technology and data as enablers to drive immediate reductions in emissions — critical steps towards achieving long-term sustainability goals in the maritime industry. Learn more at: https://zeronorth.com/

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