Navigating Zero - Global Trade’s Powerful Wave of Change

In this episode, host Lora Jakobsen sits down with Aoife O’Leary, the CEO and founder of Opportunity Green, about why regulation could be the key to achieving zero. 

Drawing on her extensive background in law, and her work bringing together policy and technical experts with economists, and lawyers, Aoife makes a case for ambition in regulation, arguing that the industry’s decarbonisation challenge isn’t just technological or financial; it’s systemic.

Dive into this daring conversation to find out how a spirit of global cooperation can make transformation possible. This episode explores a spectrum of perspectives on the regulatory question. From the science-based view that business can reach better certainty with bold commitment, to a realistic outlook on the industry, for which global frameworks are a complex task. 

Together, we explore where revenues from carbon pricing could help the most; why support for fuels like hydrogen, methanol, and ammonia are crucial; and whether it’s possible to rethink what and how we ship in a more circular global economy. Aoife also shares how existing laws like MARPOL can be reinterpreted to accelerate change without waiting for new treaties.

About Aoife O’Leary: LinkedIn
About Opportunity Green: Website
About the SASHA Coalition: Website
About ZeroNorth: Website
About Lora Jakobsen: LinkedIn
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What is Navigating Zero - Global Trade’s Powerful Wave of Change?

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?

Navigating Zero - Global Trade’s Powerful Wave of Change is a podcast from ZeroNorth that explores exactly that.

In each episode, Lora Jakobsen, Chief Sustainability Officer at Zero North, speaks with global thought leaders inside and outside the shipping industry to build a greener future together. They’ll unpack everything from the economics of decarbonisation in maritime shipping and global trade, to green energy innovations, from sustainable shipping logistics to digitalisation, data sharing and regulation in the industry.

Previous guests include leaders building the conversation around a greener future, such as Danny Lang (ex-Vice President of Business Intelligence at Google), Robert Mærsk Uggla (Chairman of the board directors of Maersk, CEO of A.P. Møller Holding) and Rasmus Nordqvist of the EU Parliament.

After two successful seasons, Navigating Zero will be returning for Season 3, to spotlight the industry’s most innovative trailblazers – the architects of change who are rebuilding the maritime trade ecosystem from the inside out. Featuring voices like Alexander Saverys, CEO of CMB.Tech, Johannah Christensen from GMF, and Julian Bray, former Editor-in-Chief of TradeWinds, as we explore what transformation really looks like in practice.

About Lora Jakobsen:
Lora Jakobsen is ZeroNorth’s Chief Sustainability Officer and one of the organisation’s founding members. She specialises in technology, growth and sustainability strategy, and is on a mission to accelerate the maritime shift towards sustainability in global trade. Lora brings clarity and challenge to every conversation, grounding the show in a commitment to finding new and better ways.

About ZeroNorth:
ZeroNorth is a technology leader committed to accelerating the energy transition in global shipping. Founded in 2020, we have grown from being a team of six to 600 employees across 10 global locations. We are at the forefront of the decarbonisation movement, leveraging technology and data as enablers to drive immediate reductions in emissions — critical steps towards achieving long-term sustainability goals in the maritime industry.

Learn more at: https://zeronorth.com/