Industry leaders and organizations call for government action
We have, together with over 150 industry leaders and organizations, called for decisive government action to enable full decarbonization of international shipping by 2050. The private sector is already taking important steps to decarbonize global supply chains. Now governments must deliver the policies to make zero emission shipping the default choice by 2030.
Ships transport around 80% of global trade and account for about 3% of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. In 2018, the UN’s International Maritime Organization (IMO) adopted an initial GHG strategy. It aims to reduce international shipping’s total annual GHG emissions by at least 50% of 2008 levels by 2050. The strategy is set to be revised in 2023.
Full decarbonization of international shipping is urgent and achievable. This is the message from more than 150 industry leaders and organizations representing the maritime value chain. Together with DFDS, they have signed a Call to Action for Shipping Decarbonization.
In combination with the UN General Assembly and climate negotiations at COP26 in Glasgow this November, governments and the world's leaders are called to:
Commit to decarbonizing international shipping by 2050 and deliver a clear plan to achieve this when adopting the IMO GHG Strategy in 2023.
Support industrial scale zero emission shipping projects through national action. For instance, by setting clear decarbonization targets for domestic shipping and by providing support to first movers and broader deployment of zero emissions fuels and vessels.
Deliver policy measures that will make zero emission shipping the default choice by 2030. This includes measures, taking effect by 2025 that can support the deployment of zero emission vessels and fuels in international shipping.
For the world to decarbonize, shipping must decarbonize. Our customers are looking to us to decarbonize their supply chain emissions. The industry is taking concrete actions. This includes investing in RD&D and pilot projects, ordering and building vessels operated carbon neutrally, buying zero emission shipping services, investing in the production of net-zero emission fuels, investing in port and bunkering infrastructure, and assessing and disclosing the climate alignment of shipping related activities.
The Call to Action for Shipping Decarbonization was developed by a multi-stakeholder taskforce convened by the Getting to Zero Coalition – a partnership between the Global Maritime Forum, the World Economic Forum, and Friends of Ocean Action. Members of the taskforce include Cargill Ocean Transportation, Citi, the COP26 Climate Champions team, the Energy Transitions Commission, Lloyd’s Register, Port of Antwerp, Torvald Klaveness, Trafigura, Yara, and UMAS.
Learn more about the Call to Action for Shipping Decarbonization and see the full list of Signatories here.
Further information: Senior Communications Advisor, Sofie Rud at rud@globalmaritimeforum.org or +45 2810 2332.