Climate Lobbying Overview: Moller Maersk has mostly positive, strategic engagement on global and EU-level climate policy in 2021-23. The company is supportive of Paris-aligned climate action in its top-line messaging, and has advocated for an ambitious global climate strategy for shipping at the International Maritime Organization, while opposing the full inclusion of international shipping in the EU Emissions Trading System.

Top-line Messaging on Climate Policy: Maersk has mostly positive top-line communications on climate change. In a June 2022 short report, Maersk stated support for a 1.5°C temperature goal, and in a December 2022 joint letter supported the EU’s target of reaching climate neutrality by 2050. In a January 2023 TIME article, CEO Vincent Clerc supported a 2050 net-zero target for shipping, stating “the current international target is to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions by at least 50% by 2050—but we actually need to be at net zero by 2050.” Maersk described the Inflation Reduction Act as a “bold move and potential game changer” in a Twitter video released in September 2022. In its 2022 Sustainability Report, released in 2023, Maersk stated support for the EU Fit for 55 package.

Engagement with Climate-Related Regulations: Maersk has actively engaged with multiple strands of climate policy and has frequently expressed its support, although with some exceptions. In an April 2022 position paper, Maersk advocated for including emissions only from intra-EU ship journeys in the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS), while more positively supporting the inclusion of all greenhouse gas emissions in the EU ETS. However, in its 2022 Sustainability Report, published in Q1 2023, Maersk welcomed the extension of the EU ETS, stating the proposal “achieves the right balance”. In its 2022 Sustainability Report, Maersk supported the EU’s finalized 45% renewable energy target and the definition of renewable hydrogen based on the additionality principle, in the Renewable Energy Directive.

Maersk supported the FuelEU Maritime proposal with several exceptions in an April 2022 position paper, calling for increased support for renewable fuels of non-biological origin and a 100% 2050 GHG emissions intensity target, but advocating for the targets be limited to intra-EU ship voyages. However, in April 2023, it welcomed the finalized FuelEU proposal in a LinkedIn article and supported the inclusion of emissions from gasses like methane and nitrous oxide. In March 2023, Maersk signed a joint letter advocating for EU states to adopt a stringent EU zero-emissions 2035 CO2 target for cars and vans without an e-fuels loophole. The company further supported ambitious EU zero-emissions targets for heavy-duty vehicles in a June 2023 consultation response.

According to a September 2022 Offshore Energy article, Maersk’s VP of US Government Relations urged Congress to pass the US Clean Shipping Act, stating “we hope that this bill receives the needed support to be passed.” Similarly, Maersk’s “ESG Day 2022” presentation appeared supportive of the US Clean Shipping Act and the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Carbon Intensity Indicator. At a global level, in a November 2022 joint letter, Maersk called for “robust interim targets for emissions reductions by 2030 and 2040” to be set through the IMO. Maersk stated support for a global fuel standard to be introduced by the IMO in an April 2022 position paper.

Positioning on Energy Transition: Maersk has consistently promoted the use of green ammonia and renewable e-methanol over LNG for shipping. Maersk's head of decarbonization criticized oil companies for holding back the energy transition, stating “they have not offered us any green methanol at a price point we can accept” in a November 2022 Financial Times interview. In a November 2022 joint letter, Maersk supported infrastructure and investments to promote green hydrogen in ships and a global 5% zero-emissions fuel target by 2030 through the International Maritime Organization (IMO). In an April 2022 position paper Maersk advocated for the IMO to adopt a global shipping fuel tax of at least $150 per ton. Maersk CEO Vincent Clerc stated in a January 2023 TIME interview that the IMO should adopt “drop dead date for the building of new fossil-fuel-powered vessels”, a position that echoed in an April 2022 position paper.

Industry Association Governance: In April 2022, Maersk published its first review of its industry association memberships and their alignment on climate change. Maersk did not identify any areas of misalignment with its industry associations, but appeared to have left the board of the International Chamber of Shipping in June 2022 as a result of this review. A senior executive from Maersk is a board member of the World Shipping Council which has mixed engagement on global and EU climate policy for shipping. Maersk is also a member of the European Roundtable for Industry, which has mixed but increasing positive top-line engagement on EU climate regulations.

InfluenceMap collects and assesses evidence of corporate climate policy engagement on a weekly basis, depending on the availability of information from each specific data source (for more information see our methodology). While this analysis flows through to the company’s scores each week, the summary above is updated periodically. This summary was last updated in Q3 2023.

A detailed assessment of the company's corporate review on climate policy engagement can be found on InfluenceMap's CA100+ Investor Hub here.