Steering towards carbon neutral transportation practices: A comprehensive analysis of the challenges confronting the shipping industry in Sri Lanka Irfan Nizar a,* , Sudath Manjula Amarasena b , P. Priyantha Lalanie a a Department of Business Economics, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Sri Lanka b Department of Decision Sciences, Faculty of Management Studies and Commerce, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Sri Lanka A R T I C L E INFO Keywords: Carbon neutrality Shipping industry Greenhouse gas emissions Sustainable development goals Technological innovation Alternative fuels Renewable energy integration Sri Lanka Climate change mitigation Maritime policy ABSTRACT The shipping industry remains a vital cog in the global trade but contributes approximately 3 % of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, making it a key target for decarbonization. This study examines the challenges and opportunities in transitioning Sri Lanka’s shipping sector toward carbon-neutral practices, leveraging its position as a strategic maritime hub in South Asia. Using a mixed-methods approach, the research explores the feasibility of alternative fuels such as H 2 , nuclear energy, NH 3 , CH 3 OH, liquid Natural Gas (LNG), and biofuels, alongside renewable energy integration and emission monitoring systems in port operations. Findings highlight significant barriers, including technological limitations, policy gaps, financial constraints, and insufficient stakeholder collaboration. Despite these challenges, the study proposes actionable solutions, including policy reforms, investments in low-emission technologies, and enhanced international partnerships. A 15-year roadmap aligns Sri Lanka’s maritime operations with global climate goals, offering practical strategies like financial in- centives and regulatory alignment. The study supports United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) such as SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy), SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure), SDG 13 (Climate Action), SDG 14 (Life Below Water), and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals). These findings provide a valuable blueprint for policymakers, industry stakeholders, and researchers, paving the way for sustainable trans- formation in Sri Lanka’s maritime sector and offering insights applicable to other developing nations. Abbreviations GHG Greenhouse Gas SDGs Sustainable Development Goals IMO International Maritime Organization LCA - Life Cycle Assessment SNA Social Network Analysis MRV Monitoring, Reporting, and Verification LNG Liquid Natural Gas CO 2 Carbon Dioxide NOx Nitrogen Oxides SOx Sulfur Oxides EEDI Energy Efficiency Design Index AIS Automatic Identification System PM Particulate Matter ETS Emission Trading Scheme UNCLOS United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea MARPOL International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships CLC International Convention on Civil Liability for Oil Pollution Damage EEXI Energy Efficiency Existing Ship Index (continued on next column) (continued ) NH 3 Ammonia CII Carbon Intensity Indicator H 2 Hydrogen CH 3 OH Methanol 1. Introduction In 2018, the global shipping fleet emitted over one billion metric tons of CO2 equivalent (CO2e), with CO2 accounting for 98 % of these emissions. This constituted around 2.9 % of global anthropogenic greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The international maritime transport system, responsible for 90 % of global goods exchange, plays a signifi- cant economic role but also contributes to environmental pollution, especially due to GHG emissions [1]. Projections suggest that by 2050, emissions could increase by 90–130 % from 2008 levels, depending on * Corresponding author. E-mail addresses: irfan_nizarphd@outlook.com (I. Nizar), sudath@sjp.ac.lk (S.M. Amarasena), priyanthal@sjp.ac.lk (P. Priyantha Lalanie). Contents lists available at ScienceDirect Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/rser https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2025.115576 Received 29 September 2024; Received in revised form 3 February 2025; Accepted 1 March 2025 Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews 215 (2025) 115576 1364-0321/© 2025 Elsevier Ltd. All rights are reserved, including those for text and data mining, AI training, and similar technologies.