The path to net-zero: Water Revolution Foundation unveils Yachting's Roadmap 2050

This week, Water Revolution Foundation marked a pivotal moment for the superyacht industry with the launch of its long-anticipated Roadmap 2050: Towards Regenerative Yachting. The announcement follows the foundation’s third high-level strategic business gathering in Lerici, Italy, hosted by Sanlorenzo, where over sixty CEOs from across the sector convened to accelerate progress from awareness to implementation.

A coordinated route to a sustainable future

The goal of the Roadmap 2050 is to set a quantified and measurable path towards net-zero emissions across the yachting sector by no later than 2050. Crafted around a yacht’s complete life cycle – Design, Build, Operation and Refit – the roadmap introduces a five-year increment strategy, enabling both companies and individuals to take responsibility for their environmental footprint with precision and transparency.

It is the first initiative of its kind to unify all industry stakeholders around a shared trajectory, with proportional targets informed by data gathered directly from designers, builders, operators and refit yards. These impact allocations form the basis for life cycle-specific benchmarks and carbon reduction targets, marking the beginning of a more rigorous, centralised industry monitoring effort.

Robert van Tol, Executive Director of Water Revolution Foundation, underscored the strategic importance of the initiative: “The Roadmap 2050 is a compass to navigate together through what are, undeniably, uncharted waters. Yachting can and should be pro-active and openly commit to net-zero, by latest 2050. Coordination and collaboration is key to accomplish this.”

From commitment to regeneration

Notably, the roadmap goes beyond traditional emissions mitigation. Above its impact-reduction graph lies a mirrored “positive investment” axis, illustrating the need for regenerative contributions to carbon sequestration, biodiversity restoration, and clean-up of contaminated soil and water. This transition to a nature-positive model reframes yachting’s role – from passive impact minimisation to active environmental stewardship.

To support this shift, the Foundation will introduce Ocean Assist, a sector-specific investment mechanism designed to fund marine ecosystem restoration. The initiative, launching later this summer, will offer structured pathways for owners and companies to directly support nature-based solutions and contribute to global ocean health.

Renowned conservationist Céline Cousteau opened the Lerici event with a rousing keynote, affirming the industry's responsibility and capacity to lead: “If yachting can transform, no other sector will have an excuse not to follow.” Her message – rooted in heritage, science, and frontline experience – echoed throughout the week’s proceedings.

Industry-wide collaboration and shared responsibility

Crucially, the Roadmap remains voluntary – an invitation, not a regulation – designed to inspire innovation, spark competition, and standardise environmental ambition across the value chain. Trade associations are encouraged to embed its targets within their own agendas, and companies are urged to join roundtables that will help refine monitoring systems and key performance indicators.

Dr Vienna Eleuteri, Vice Chair and originator of the Foundation, described the effort as both pragmatic and visionary: “The Roadmap is a shared promise – to each other, to the ocean, and to future generations. A promise of transparency, collaboration, and real progress.”

As yachting looks to the horizon of 2050, the Roadmap offers a rare moment of alignment – an industry united not just by craft and commerce, but by a common ambition to leave behind cleaner seas and a more resilient maritime future.