Climate Capitalism

This NY Times article, “Arctic Shortcut Beckons Shippers as Ice Thaws” discusses some of the benefits of global warming at least for shipping companies traveling between East Asia and Europe.  According to the article two German ships will make  the first commercial trip from Japan to Rotterdam using a route north of Siberia.

The trip will shave off approximatly 4500 mile from the traditional Suez canal route.  While this trip may reduce some CO2 emmissions in fuel savings, there are others that are deciding to take the long way around the Cape Horn of Africa to avoid the fees of the Suez Canal.  NPR’s Planet Money had a great story about how the economic crisis was changing shipping routes.  http://www.npr.org/blogs/money/2009/04/those_ships_and_their_long_det.html