Lasse Kristoffersen

President & CEO, Wallenius Wilhelmsen

Search every verified Lasse Kristoffersen interview, podcast appearance, and on-the-record quote — each transcript cross-checked by AI and human review to confirm speaker identity. Lasse Kristoffersen, President and CEO of Wallenius Wilhelmsen, has continued to advocate for accelerated decarbonization in the shipping industry. In a November 2024 interview, he stated that the International Maritime Organization’s target of zero emissions by 2050 is “too late,” arguing that climate change is escalating faster than the industry’s current pace of change. He noted that little is happening on the ground to meet that goal and expressed concern that the U.S. would not provide climate leadership in the coming years. Kristoffersen has also emphasized that his company has a concrete plan to halve emissions from 2020 to 2030 and reach zero by 2040, and that he treats sustainability targets as an “emission budget” that cannot be exceeded. In a July 2025 podcast appearance, Kristoffersen described the transition to green shipping as primarily a leadership challenge rather than a technological one. He said he applies the same rigor to safety and decarbonization as to financial performance. He criticized companies that shift their sustainability stances with political winds, calling them “not real voices” and “not shapers.” Kristoffersen has also stated that he does not believe humanity will sacrifice its way to a better society, and that technological breakthroughs and regulation are necessary to make sustainable business models profitable and affordable.