Global Shipping Confronts Energy Security And Decarbonisation Challenges

Geopolitical Shocks And Market Realities

The global shipping sector is confronting an increasingly stark disconnect between ambitious political targets and economic realities. Amid rising energy demand, geopolitical instability and the scarcity of industrial-scale alternative fuels, the journey toward net zero emissions is becoming more complex and protracted.

Critical Insights From The Capital Link Maritime Leaders Summit

During the 10th Capital Link Maritime Leaders Summit in Athens, held on June 1 as part of Posidonia 2026, leading Greek shipowners argued that shipping is becoming increasingly influenced by geopolitical developments rather than traditional market dynamics. Particular attention was given to the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important energy corridors, following recent disruptions that have renewed concerns about energy security and global trade flows.

Follow THE FUTURE on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, X and Telegram

Energy Security Vs. Environmental Commitments

Shipping Minister Vassilis Kikilias said countries with strong maritime sectors should play a more active role in shaping the future of global shipping policy rather than simply following decisions made elsewhere. The balance between energy security and environmental targets remained a central theme throughout the discussions. Nikolas Tsakos, President and CEO of Tsakos Energy Navigation Ltd, described the period since 2019 as a succession of disruptions, including the pandemic and geopolitical conflicts, that have created ongoing uncertainty for the industry.

Scaling Infrastructure To Meet Ambitious Goals

The debate also pivoted to the challenges of aligning fast-evolving regulatory mandates with the existing energy and infrastructure landscape. The IMO Net-Zero Framework, now postponed until November 2026, has left many stakeholders in a holding pattern. Shipowners remain cautious, as the fuels, bunkering networks and port infrastructures necessary for a sustainable transition are not yet available at the required scale. As Polys Hadjioannou, CEO of Safe Bulkers Inc, pointed out, even investments in alternative fuels such as methanol are constrained by current limitations in available infrastructure.

The Imperative For Operational Efficiency

While long-term infrastructure solutions continue to develop, some industry leaders are focusing on operational measures that can be implemented immediately. Ioanna Procopiou, CEO of Sea Traders SA and Prominence Maritime SA, said improvements in vessel performance and the use of digital tools could significantly reduce emissions while broader structural challenges are addressed. According to Procopiou, operational improvements alone could lower emissions by as much as 40%.

Looking Ahead

Discussions at the summit highlighted the challenge of balancing environmental targets with energy security, commercial realities and evolving geopolitical risks. Industry leaders argued that progress toward decarbonisation will depend not only on regulation, but also on the development of fuels, infrastructure and technologies capable of supporting the sector’s long-term transition.

The Future Forbes Realty Global Properties

Women Make Up A Majority Of The EU’s Science And Technology Workforce But The Real Gap Is Elsewhere

by News Editor

June 25, 2026

Women now make up the majority of the EU’s science and technology workforce. According to Eurostat, in 2025, more than 81.6 million people aged 15 to 74 were employed in science and technology occupations across the EU. Of those, 52.5% were women, equal to 42.8 million women. The number of women in these occupations rose by 27.9% compared with 2015, an increase of more than 9.3 million over a decade.

On the surface, the numbers resemble progress. However, Eurostat’s category requires context before that figure can be read accurately. The data refers to HRST, or Human Resources in Science and Technology, specifically people employed in science and technology occupations. These are roles where the main tasks require professional or technical knowledge in physical and life sciences, but also in social sciences and humanities. That definition is wider and broader than engineering, ICT, laboratory science, or high-tech research alone.

Follow THE FUTURE on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, X and Telegram

Zooming In

The gender picture changes once the data moves from a wider definition of the workforce to the narrower scientist-and-engineer (research and manufacturing) subgroup.

Scientists and engineers represented almost a quarter of all people employed in science and technology in the EU in 2025. Eurostat describes scientists and engineers as often being the innovators at the centre of technology-led development, making them an important subgroup to focus on separately.

Women accounted for only 40.8% of scientists and engineers in 2025, despite making up more than half of the wider category. That share has increased by a mere 0.5 percentage points over the past decade. The absolute number of women working as scientists and engineers rose from 5.3 million in 2015 to 8.2 million in 2025, despite the push from national and international organisations to increase the number of women in the field. Europe has expanded the number of women in science and technology occupations over ten years. However, that expansion has not extended equally into the scientist-and-engineer subgroup, where much of Europe’s research and innovation work is conducted.

In 2025, of the 39.4 million women aged 25 to 64 working in science and technology occupations in the EU, 35.5 million worked in service activities. Only 2.7 million worked in manufacturing. Women accounted for 57.5% of science and technology employment in services, but only 31.3% in manufacturing.

In 2025, the highest shares of women employed in science and technology occupations were recorded in Latvia at 62.4%, followed by Hungary’s Great Plain and North region at 61.1%, Estonia at 60.5%, Poland’s Central macroregion at 60.4%, and Lithuania at 60.3%. No EU country recorded a majority of women among science and technology workers in manufacturing.

Break-down

Eurostat’s figures measure employment in broad science and technology occupations. They do not show job security, pay levels, management roles, promotion rates, research leadership, or whether women are concentrated in junior or senior workplace positions.

The classification of “senior” also requires additional explanation. Eurostat reports that 45.9% of science and technology workers aged 25 to 64 in the EU were classified as “senior” HRST in 2025. In this dataset, “senior” refers to workers aged 45 to 64. It does not mean senior manager, senior researcher, team lead, or decision-maker.

A high female share in the wider Human Resource Science and Technology (HRST) category does not parallel equal representation across scientists, engineers, manufacturing roles, senior posts, pay, research funding, or decision-making. These figures also reflect the occupational mix inside each country or region, not only structural progress across all areas of science and technology.

The Case Of Cyprus

Eurostat data places Cyprus’s overall science and technology employment at 37.2% of the labour force in 2025, slightly above the EU-27 figure of 36.9%, and above Greece at 26.8%, Malta at 33.9%, and Turkey at 18.2%. This figure covers the total share of the labour force employed in science and technology across all genders.

Progress Or Work-in-Progress?

52.5% in the broad category. 40.8% among scientists and engineers. 31.3% in manufacturing. Europe’s gender gap in science and technology hasn’t closed yet, and there is still work to be done to encourage and support more women to enter the field, especially in research and manufacturing.

Let’s not wait another decade for another couple of percentage points of hope.

Breaking news