Navigating Zero - Global Trade’s Powerful Wave of Change

Technology plays a critical role in the green transition. In the past, the complexity of the shipping industry – including the diversity of the global fleet, infrastructure constraints, and the economic impact of ‘going green’ – has prevented mass adoption of technological innovation. However, a recent wave of accelerated technological advancements are helping the industry take short term action to reduce emissions.

Today, the industry knows the optimal speed, route, and fuel consumption for vessels sailing in the dynamic conditions of the vast sea. This has allowed for a transformative shift, uniting the maritime community in a collaborative push towards embracing digitalisation and efficiency. 

In this episode, Søren Meyer, CEO of ZeroNorth, sits down with Lora Jakobsen, Chief Purpose Activist at ZeroNorth, to discuss the technology that is shaping the future of the green transition and why he thinks the change movement is critical to accelerate the maritime industry. Søren has over 30 years of expertise in shipping. Before ZeroNorth, he held leadership roles at Mærsk Tankers, including Vice President, Chief Strategy & Transformation Officer. He also previously served in multiple roles at O.W. Bunker & Trading including Vice President and Global Sales Director. 

In 2020, Søren became the CEO of ZeroNorth, growing the company from 5 employees to a global organisation with offices in 12 countries, serving over 200 customers and over 500 employees. In 2022, Søren was named the #1 technology leader of the year by Lloyd’s List.

In this conversation, Søren delves into why the trend of technological acceleration will probably not slow down, and how optimising operations across the global trade value chain will enhance commercial performance and, more importantly, reduce immediate emissions today. Søren also explains why transparency is the key to moving the green transition forward even faster. Lastly, Lora and Søren explore the integral role of data and AI to deliver better solutions and empower customers to make more informed decisions.

The world is in a climate crisis, and all industries must do their part to reach zero emissions. Maritime trade is critical to today's society but is also responsible for roughly 3% of all greenhouse gases. A future where global trade reaches zero emissions is possible. But how do we get there? In this podcast, we're sitting down with thought leaders to explore the inner workings of global trade, its massive impact on our society, and the obstacles it faces while navigating its way to zero.

About the Søren Meyer: LinkedIn Profile
About ZeroNorth: Website
About Lora Jakobsen: LinkedIn Profile
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What is Navigating Zero - Global Trade’s Powerful Wave of Change?

Navigating Zero - Global Trade’s Powerful Wave of Change is a podcast from ZeroNorth that explores the significant challenges facing the maritime industry on its journey towards a sustainable future. There’s no denying we are facing a climate crisis, and all industries must do their part to reach zero emissions. Maritime trade is critical to today’s society but is also responsible for roughly 3% of all greenhouse gas emissions. A future where global trade reaches zero carbon emissions is possible, but how do we actually get there?

In each episode, Lora Jakobsen, Chief Purpose Activist at ZeroNorth, will sit down with global thought leaders and ask the difficult questions: How do we accelerate decarbonisation in maritime trade? What stands in the way of shipping companies reaching zero emissions? What are the innovative solutions to the challenges we face in distribution? And how can data and technology help?

Navigating Zero gives us all a peek into how maritime shipping and global trade fit into our world. It gives voice to different perspectives on the solutions to reduce carbon emissions, from the way cargo is packed in shipping containers, to innovations on the ship, and beyond. If you are a professional within the shipping industry who wants to drive change and make global trade sustainable, this is the podcast series for you.

Lora Jakobsen specialises in technology, growth, and sustainability strategy. As a founding member of ZeroNorth, Lora played a pivotal role in shaping the company’s vision to make global trade more environmentally sustainable. That included defining ZeroNorth’s mission and driving change as the shipping industry embraces a greener future. As a key figure in the decarbonisation journey, Lora spearheads and contributes to global trade transformation, collaborating with organisations working toward zero emissions.

ZeroNorth was founded to lead the sustainable transition of global trade. Their goal is to support shipping companies around the world, helping to optimise their business while reducing shipping carbon emissions. ZeroNorth does this by creating new and innovative solutions and elevating operations through actionable data to transform and improve client business.

Learn more about their efforts at: https://zeronorth.com/