Establishing　a　long-term　decarbonization　roadmap　for　the　maritime　industry　requires　an　in-depth　understanding　of　historical　emission　patterns　and　their　underlying　drivers.　Here,　we　introduce　a　new　technical　framework　that　integrates　international　trade,　ship　activity,　and　marine　fuel　data　to　develop　a　comprehensive　0.1°　×　0.1°　historical　shipping　emission　inventory　for　carbon　dioxide　(CO2)　and　five　key　atmospheric　pollutants　(SO2,　NOx,　particulate　matter,　CO,　and　non-methane　volatile　organic　compounds)　from　1970　to　2021.　Our　findings　reveal　a　1.7-fold　increase　in　global　shipping　CO2　emissions,　accompanied　by　a　structural　shift,　notably　with　container　ships’　contribution　rising　from　13.8%　to　40.4%.　In　contrast　to　the　decelerating　growth　in　CO2　emissions　across　the　North　Atlantic,　emissions　in　Asian　waters　have　surged,　driven　by　the　maritime　boom　of　emerging　economies.　These　structural　and　spatial　changes　underscore　the　imperative　of　prioritizing　sectors　and　regions　with　the　highest　future　growth　potential　in　decarbonization　strategies,　thereby　shaping　the　long-term　trajectory　of　maritime　sustainability.　©　2025　Elsevier　Inc.