Cruise giant Carnival Corporation has a dirty secret.
Under its all-you-can-eat buffets and “wholesome” entertainment are cruises powered by one of the dirtiest fossil fuels on the planet. It's called heavy fuel oil, a cheap bottom-of-the-barrel product that is so toxic it’s considered “hazardous” on land. Because heavy fuel oil is so thick, it stays in the environment for much longer than other fuel types. Cold Arctic water, strong ocean currents, and harsh weather conditions make it all but impossible to attempt a cleanup. A spill in the region would be disastrous for this fragile ecosystem.
To make matters worse, an investigative report revealed that the air quality on Carnival Corporation ships can be worse than some of the world's most polluted cities including Beijing, China and Santiago, Chile.
For the past couple of years, we have been urging Carnival Corporation to stop its use of heavy fuel oil in the Arctic, Subarctic, and Alaska. The risk to these delicate environments is too high, and Carnival Corporation could switch to a cleaner fuel now!
Email the bigwigs of Carnival Corporation and tell them that a heavy fuel oil spill in the Arctic, Subarctic, and Alaska is not a risk worth taking. CEO Arnold Donald, Global Impact Lead Tara Russell, and Director of Sustainability Programs Elaine Heldewier need to hear from you!
