In March, STAX Chief Strategy Officer and founding partner Edward Norton appeared on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, where he took a moment to highlight the driving mission behind STAX and the critical work we are doing to reduce harmful emissions.
The global toxic emissions crisis
Shipping is the backbone of global trade, moving more than 10 billion tons of goods each year. But that essential activity comes with a cost, particularly for port communities that are disproportionately exposed to harmful exhaust and low air quality.
While the maritime industry has committed to meeting the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) goal of achieving net-zero shipping emissions “by or around” 2050, communities living near ports continue to face daily exposure to concentrated air pollution. This exposure is not abstract. It contributes to increased rates of respiratory and cardiovascular disease, while also accelerating environmental damage.
According to the World Health Organization, 99% of the global population breathes polluted air. Waiting decades for alternative fuels or full fleet overhauls is not a viable path forward. What’s needed today are solutions that can reduce emissions immediately, without requiring costly, time-intensive changes to ships or port infrastructure.
Action as the antidote
For Edward, addressing climate challenges has always been rooted in action—supporting solutions that deliver tangible, near-term benefits for the communities most affected.
That drive is what led him to the work of STAX founder and Chief Technology Officer, Bob Sharp. Bob is a veteran engineer who recognized the massive technological gap in maritime emissions capture and built STAX’s patented system to solve it.
Bringing a long-standing commitment to environmental advocacy, Edward recognized the global necessity of Bob’s product. He partnered with Bob to elevate these solutions and scale STAX’s emissions capture and control technology.
Cleaner ports and healthier communities
By attaching directly to the exhaust stacks of at-berth vessels, STAX technology captures and controls emissions right at the source. This improves local air quality and ensures regulatory compliance, all while allowing ports and operators to maintain business as usual.
Fully authorized by the California Air Resources Board (CARB) to service all major vessel classes, STAX delivers the most comprehensive emissions capture solution on the market. STAX is cost-neutral for most customers, costing just a few dollars per vehicle for auto carriers and roughly half a cent per gallon for tanker vessels.
These modest operational costs unlock outsized benefits for communities. With proven deployments across major California ports, to date, STAX technology has removed the emissions equivalent of taking more than 65 million cars off the road.
The STAX mission
As Edward pointed out during the conversation, in an increasingly polarized world, clean air remains a global priority. That alignment across communities, regulators, and industry leaders has been a key driver of STAX’s momentum, enabling the collaboration needed to scale.
It is always meaningful to see our work recognized, but hearing our core mission discussed on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert was a uniquely exciting milestone. With STAX’s fleet expanding rapidly, we’re ready to deploy our solutions internationally and continue driving progress toward a clean air future.
STAX removes up to 99% of harmful ship exhaust. To learn more about how emissions capture and control can support your port’s compliance roadmap, get in touch with our team.
