With over 100,000 merchant vessels moving more than 80 percent of global trade, the shipping industry is an indispensable part of the global economy. But it’s also a critical piece of the climate challenge. It emits about 3 percent of global carbon emissions—comparable to the aviation industry—and, if left unchecked, could account for 10 percent of emissions by 2050.

That’s why the U.N.’s International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) new climate strategy matters. This year, the IMO committed to reducing emissions by 20–30% by 2030 and 70–80% by 2040, relative to 2008 levels, and reaching net-zero greenhouse gas emissions “by or around” 2050.

Under the draft regulations, large vessels will face penalties starting in 2028 if they fail to meet emissions intensity targets—cutting greenhouse gases per unit of energy by 30% by 2035 and 65% by 2040.

This is progress. But it leaves a lot of climate pollution on the table.

That’s because reducing emissions is only part of the climate battle, especially when it comes to methane. The atmosphere already holds around 4 gigatons of excess methane—a greenhouse gas over 80 times more potent than carbon dioxide over 20 years. If we want a fighting chance against near-term warming, we need to remove existing pollution as well.

Here’s where shipping can transform from a problem to a solution.

The world’s fleet of massive maritime shipping vessels is the ideal host for innovative greenhouse gas removal technologies like Bennu’s, which targets methane emissions directly. Our system is designed to eliminate methane from ambient air virtually anywhere, but in high-concentration areas, like landfills, fossil fuel facilities, or ships that use or transport LNG fuel, its performance skyrockets.

Liquefied natural gas (LNG) is often promoted as a “cleaner” transition fuel and is not only shipped by vessel, but also used to power dual-fuel ships. There are plenty of LNG skeptics, and rightfully so. LNG engines can leak, and as long as LNG is used as a transition fuel, we have the opportunity to clean up the methane emitted from the leaks.

When Willie Sutton was asked why he robbed banks, he said, “That’s where the money is.” It’s only logical to put our equipment where methane concentrations are highest.

The IMO should be applauded for taking meaningful action. But the shipping industry has a low-cost opportunity to go even further. By deploying methane removal technologies across the shipping sector, we can accelerate not just the reduction, but the reversal, of climate impacts. Shipping has always delivered the products the world needs. Now, it has a chance to deliver a more stable and safer planet.