We are honored to share that STAX Engineering CEO Michael Walker has been named to this year’s TIME100 Climate list, recognizing the world’s 100 most influential business leaders driving measurable climate action worldwide.
At STAX, we design and deploy emissions capture and control technology that removes pollutants directly from ships at berth, helping ports and shipping companies reduce emissions immediately, without costly vessel retrofits.
Michael has led this work since becoming CEO in 2019, guiding the company on its mission to bridge the gap between the present and a clean-air future, preventing harmful emissions from even entering the atmosphere. Under his leadership, STAX has grown from a single prototype to a fleet of eight barges operating across five California ports, with plans to reach 27 barges by 2027. The company has also become the first fleet approved by CARB, California’s world- leading air quality regulation body, to provide emissions capture and control across all major vessel types—container ships, auto carriers (ro-ros), and tankers.
Together, these systems have captured more than 250 tons of pollutants from over 1,500 vessels, improving air quality for port communities and reducing harmful emissions like NOx and PM that lead to various health issues, including asthma, cancer, and heart and lung disease.
“Watching 40,000-ton cargo ships (some of the most stubborn polluters on Earth) actually getting cleaner gives me hope about the future of the climate movement,” said Walker. “We partner with some of the leading companies at the forefront of this movement in the shipping industry, including shipping giants like WWL and NYK Line—who are dedicated to doing their part—and ports like Los Angeles and Long Beach, which pioneer zero-emission technologies that other ports worldwide are racing to replicate.”
The TIME100 Climate list celebrates leaders whose work is transforming climate ambition into real results—prioritizing scalable, science-based solutions over pledges. Michael’s inclusion recognizes STAX’s progress in turning clean-air innovation into a deployable, commercial reality.
This recognition comes on the heels of STAX’s recent announcement of international expansion, including participation in a consortium that secured a $1.5 million UK government grant for our first major European emissions project, and plans to invest up to $50 million across UK ports.
Learn more about the TIME100 Climate list here and sign up for our newsletter to stay updated on STAX.
