Climate Policy Engagement Analysis
Climate Lobbying Overview: Moller Maersk (Maersk) demonstrates policy engagement that is supportive of science-aligned climate policy in 2023-25. The company exhibits strategic engagement and has supported 2050 net-zero targets, a phase-out date for fossil-powered ships, ambitious global climate policy through the International Maritime Organization and an ambitious transition from fossil fuels in maritime, including liquid natural gas (LNG).
Top-line Messaging on Climate Policy: In its 2023 sustainability report, released in February 2024, Maersk supported the International Maritime Organization’s 2050 net-zero CO2 emissions goal for international shipping. Maersk also advocated against weakening measures under the Fit for 55 package in its ‘European Policy Vision for 2024-2029’ publication, released in May 2024 and supported the Paris Agreement in a position paper, accessed in May 2024. Maersk supported a wide range of policies, while clearly referencing the need for increased ambition on its corporate webpage, accessed in May 2025. In an April 2025 media article, Maersk also supported a global carbon price for maritime at $600/tonne.
Engagement with Climate-Related Regulations: In its 2024 Annual Report, published in February 2025, Maersk supported the EU Emissions Trading Scheme (EU ETS) for maritime, and advocated for the inclusion of container terminals. However, following the extension of the EU ETS to 50% of emissions from extra-EEA voyages, Maersk opposed a ‘regulatory U-turn’ and supported extending the policy to all GHGs and container terminals in its May 2024 ‘European Policy Vision for 2024-2029’ publication. Regarding a global emissions trading scheme, a March 2025 Financial Times article reported that Maersk called for an ambitious scheme that penalizes liquid natural gas (LNG).
In April 2023, it welcomed the finalized FuelEU proposal which also applied to 50% of fuel consumption on ships between an EEA and non-EEA port in a LinkedIn article. On its corporate website, accessed in May 2025, Maersk emphasized challenges with FuelEU Maritime, while supporting a global fuel standard. Maersk echoed this position in its 2024 Annual report, published in February 2025. In a December 2023 joint letter, position paper for the IMO, accessed in May 2024 and a March 2025 Op-ed, Maersk called for a global fuel standard.
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.
In a March 2025 media article, Maersk called for a global carbon levy of $150-200/tonne of CO2.
Positioning on Energy Transition: Maersk’s 2023 sustainability report published in February 2024, supported the International Maritime Organisation’s (IMO) global 2030 target of 5-10% green fuels. In a position paper accessed in May 2024, Maersk advocated for the IMO to adopt a global shipping fuel tax of at least $150 per ton. This position was echoed in Maersk’s ‘position papers definitions’ document, which also called for FuelEU Maritime to incentivize renewable fuels of non-biological origin. Maersk supported a mid-term measure through the IMO that incentivizes a transition to green fuels, such as a Green Balance Mechanism, on its corporate webpage, accessed in May 2025.
Maersk’s 2023 sustainability report, published in February 2024, supported the phase-out of fossil fuel subsidies and called for more ambition in the COP28 agreement on the transition from fossil fuels. Similarly, in a December 2023 joint statement and its ‘European Policy Vision for 2024-2029’ publication, released in May 2024, Maersk called for a phase-out date for ships that operate only on fossil fuels. In its 2024 Annual Report, published in February 2025, Maersk again called for a phase-out date for fossil-fuel powered ships while supporting a mid-term measure at the IMO to incentivize a transition to green fuels. Similarly, in a March 2025 Op-ed, Maersk echoed support for a phase-out date while advocating against measures that financially incentivize LNG over bio and e-methanol. Maersk further advocated against financially incentivizing LNG in a March 2025 Financial Times article.
Industry Association Governance: Maersk published a review of its industry association memberships and their alignment on climate change on its corporate webpage in 2024, however, this review does not meet InfluenceMap’s criteria. A senior executive from Maersk is a board member of the World Shipping Council which has both positive and negative engagement on global and EU climate policy for shipping. Maersk is also a member of the European Roundtable for Industry, which has 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 2025.
A detailed assessment of the company's corporate review on climate policy engagement can be found on InfluenceMap's CA100+ Investor Hub here.