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Will Greta Thunberg trade her sailing boat for a superyacht? A new trend for sustainable luxury vessels means that may happen sooner than you think

The Azimut Grande S10 – yacht makers are trying to come up with sustainable solutions for luxury travel. Photo: Auzimut
The Azimut Grande S10 – yacht makers are trying to come up with sustainable solutions for luxury travel. Photo: Auzimut
Environment

The world’s 300 biggest superyachts produce close to the same carbon footprint as the African nation of Burundi – but there may be one that even an environmentalist would find both appealing and sustainable

There might soon come a day when Swedish eco-crusader Greta Thunberg – the 17-year-old who is unabashedly taking on world leaders who are in denial about global warming and climate change – will swap her zero-emission sailing boat for a superyacht.

A sustainable superyacht, that is.

A study released by New York’s Sage Publications in May 2019, titled “Measuring the Ecological Impact of the Wealthy: Excessive Consumption, Ecological Disorganization, Green Crime and Justice”, points to owners of ultra-luxe vessels as some of the biggest culprits in the world’s growing carbon emissions crisis – that’s 300 superyachts, each more than 100 metres long, needing more than 121 litres of oil a year. They account for 284 million kilograms of carbon dioxide emissions annually – nearly as much as the tiny African nation of Burundi produces: 297 million kg.

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At 108 metres, it is the biggest yacht Italian company Benetti has ever built. Photo: Benetti
At 108 metres, it is the biggest yacht Italian company Benetti has ever built. Photo: Benetti

All that might change soon – yacht makers are incorporating eco-friendly features into their craft, including hybrid engines and lightweight material that have an impact on fuel consumption.

Even Thunberg – who in 2019 famously sailed from her home country Sweden to the United Nations Climate Action Summit 2019 in New York on her environmentally-friendly boat – admits it would be unrealistic to expect every Earth-loving person to give up gas-guzzling planes, trains and automobiles. While some car companies, such as Tesla, seek to balance out environmental impact with comfort and luxury, the auto industry is still struggling to find a solution for more sustainable battery alternatives. And when it comes to 100-metre yachts built for luxury and speed, the challenge is even more daunting.

Azimut Grande S10 – Azimut is working to reduce fuel consumption by using lightweight material such as carbon fibre panels. Photo: Auzimut
Azimut Grande S10 – Azimut is working to reduce fuel consumption by using lightweight material such as carbon fibre panels. Photo: Auzimut

Giovanna Vitelli, vice-president of the Italian Azimut Benetti Group, says environmental impact is an increasingly pressing concern among yacht owners. “[Superyachts] are emotional products, they’re at the top of the pyramid of luxury. But the world is changing,” she explains. “If you look around, this kind of [excessive] opulence probably no longer suits customers’ taste, and that’s a good thing.”