Decarbonising ASEAN coastal shipping: Addressing climate change and coastal ecosystem issues through sustainable carbon neutrality strategies

This study analyzes the impact of ASEAN's goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050 on climate change and coastal ecosystems. It examines carbon emissions and energy usage from 2019 to 2050 using different scenarios to reduce emissions and meet global temperature goals. This research proposes strategies to reduce carbon emissions and mitigate climate change effects on coastal ecosystems, focusing on evaluating CO2 emissions from ASEAN's coastal shipping sector. Geospatial data was used to analyze ship activity and develop carbon neutrality strategies. Various sources are used to gather data, including the Maritime Portal, exact Earth AIS, FASA, and GFW. This study finds that container ships emitted 39 × 106 t of CO2 in 2019, with the transportation sector contributing 4.5% of the total 920 × 106 t of CO2 in 2020. Without regulations, CO2 emissions could increase fourfold by 2050. The study recommends implementing policies such as adopting clean fuels, energy efficiency standards, and fuel-related regulations to reduce CO2 emissions by 52% by 2050. It also emphasizes the importance of cleaner technologies, regulatory considerations, and collaboration, which would have positive implications for coastal ecosystems. The findings of this study are relevant to professionals in the maritime and shipping industries, environmental consultants, sustainability specialists, and international organizations. [Display omitted] •Understand ASEAN's carbon neutrality pledge and implications.•Evaluating CO2 emissions and energy consumption under different scenarios.•Energy efficiency standards and low-carbon fuel regulations.•Achieving 45% and 80% reduction in shipping sector CO2 emissions by 2050.•Providing insights and recommendations for ASEAN's low-carbon development.