A.P. Moller-Maersk

Does the core business genuinely avoid or reduce emissions, or build climate resilience? Share of revenue that is actually 'green'. Fossil-dependent models score low.

Maersk's core business is fossil-fuel-powered container shipping, responsible for ~100M+ tonnes of CO2e annually; the 18 dual-fuel methanol vessels are a commercially meaningful but numerically tiny slice (~2.5%) of a fleet of 700+ ships, and absolute emissions rose in 2024 despite efficiency gains, leaving the core business firmly high-emitting today.

Credible, science-based targets (SBTi), a real net-zero plan with progress to date, and CDP disclosure — not just a dated press release.

Maersk holds the shipping industry's first SBTi-validated 1.5°C-aligned targets (February 2024), with specific absolute reduction goals of 96% for Scope 1/2 and 90% for Scope 3 by 2040, plus meaningful 2030 interim targets (35% Scope 1 cut); CDP 'A' rating confirms disclosure quality, though progress on absolute emissions reduction is currently negative.

Operational footprint, labour and social practices, and governance quality across the company's own operations and supply chain.

Maersk's 2024 CSRD-aligned integrated report shows strong governance integration, 45–62% renewable electricity at terminals, improving gender diversity (36% women in top management), a 89% employee engagement rate, and exclusive use of EU-certified ship recycling yards; partially offset by labour risks in a global seafarer workforce and absolute emissions growth.

Quality of disclosure, independent third-party verification, and how much hard data backs the company's claims.

Maersk publishes a CSRD-aligned integrated annual report with ESRS-compliant data, third-party assurance, CDP 'A' climate score, MSCI AAA, and ISS ESG Prime ratings; a 2023 self-corrected 5% overstatement of Scope 1 refrigerant emissions indicates both a data quality issue and a functioning correction process that enhances credibility.

Controversies, litigation, pollution, fossil-fuel lobbying, conflict-zone involvement and governance scandals. Higher means cleaner.

No major governance scandals or fossil fuel lobbying controversies are on record; Maersk actively advocates for stronger IMO carbon pricing rather than weakening it, and recycles vessels only at EU-certified yards; the principal controversy is expert criticism that bio-methanol may not be sustainably scalable and that early 'carbon neutral' marketing overstated lifecycle emission reductions.