An alliance of 19 countries, which includes Britain and the USA, has reached an accord to create zero emissions in shipping trade routes between ports. This is to hasten the decarbonization of the worldwide maritime industry.
The shipping industry, which transports about 90% of the global trade, is responsible for nearly 3% of the world’s CO2 emissions.
The UN shipping agency the International Maritime Organizations (IMO) has said it aims to reduce overall greenhouse gas emissions from ships by 50% from 2008 levels by 2050. The goal is NOT aligned to the Paris Agreement on climate change and the sector is under pressure to be more ambitious.
The signatory countries involved in the ‘Clydebank Declaration’ which was launched at the recent COP26 climate summit in Glasgow, agreed to support the establishment of at least six green corridors by 2025. This will require developing supplies of zero emissions fuel, the infrastructure required for decarbonization and regulatory frameworks.
“It is our aspiration to see many more corridors in operation by 2030,” their mission statement said.
Britain’s maritime minister Robert Courts said that countries alone would not be able to decarbonize shipping routes without the commitment of private and non-governmental sectors.
US Transportation Secretary, Peter Buttigieg said the declaration was “a big step forward for green shipping corridors and collective action”.
The IMO’s Secretary General Kitack Lim said, “We must upgrade our ambitions, keeping up with the latest development in the global community”.
It was however, unclear how the green corridor commitments would get to zero shipping emissions.
Madeline Rose, with green group Pacific Environment, said “the Clydebank framework leaves room for delay tactics and fossil fuel loopholes”
“We urge partner countries and ports to act quickly to set immediate, interim and ultimately mandatory benchmarks to phase out all fossil fuel ship pollution. Along their shared corridors,” Ms Rose said.
Other signatory countries are Australia, Belgium, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Denmark, Fiji, Finland, France, Germany, Republic of Ireland, Japan, The Marshall Islands, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway and Sweden.
SANDY MCINNES
MPL NEWSLETTER EDITOR
