PLEDGE TO REACH ZERO-EMISSION SHIPPING BY 2050
In the context of the UN Climate Change Conference (COP26) in Glasgow, fourteen countries led by Denmark took action to decarbonise shipping, issuing the “Declaration on Zero Emission Shipping by 2050.” With the signatures of major shipping nations including the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, France, and Norway as well as key players in the industry including Panama, the declaration focuses on immediate reductions for shipping to reach zero emissions by 2050.
The Declaration stresses that emissions from international shipping should peak immediately and undergo significant reductions in the coming years, in order to keep the Paris Agreement temperature goal (limit the increase to 1.5 °C above pre-industrial levels) within reach. Additionally, the 14 countries recognise the importance of international collaboration and investment in the production of zero-emission fuels and the related importance of creating green shipping corridors and infrastructure and other efforts to ensure a critical mass of zero-emission ships are on the water by 2030.
IMO Secretary-General Kitack Lim welcomed the focus on shipping and the progress at COP26. The success at COP26 he said, would empower the IMO to pursue its initiatives for the shipping industry. However, the current IMO GHG strategy (50% emissions reduction by 2050) would fail to meet Paris Agreement targets. Mette Frederiksen, Prime Minister of Denmark, urged the IMO to set more ambitious targets to achieve zero emissions by 2050. The signatories pledge to work at the IMO to adopt ambitious intermediary goals and measures to help achieve these targets.
Source: Maritime Executive, The Loadstar