An International Maritime Organization official reiterated that one of the biggest challenges that shipping faces is the decarbonisation effort needed to meet the United Nations body’s 2050 goal of net-zero greenhouse gas emissions.
Heike Deggim, director of the IMO’s marine environment division, said: “The timescale for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, embedded to the greenhouse gas strategy, is very ambitious and there is a commensurate urgency to understand related safety risks and to ensure the safety of the necessary solutions.”
At the Xinde Marine Forum in London, Deggim also emphasised that it is important to ensure that this “ambitious transition” is just and equitable by supporting developing countries.
“That is why we are developing partnerships with governments, industry and financial institutions to facilitate resource mobilisation through global and long-term projects,” she explained.
“They are promoting inclusive innovation and supporting trials and pilots with a focus on technology development and green maritime infrastructure.”
Deggim also labelled the adoption of the 2023 IMO strategy on the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions as a “historical milestone”.
She said the forthcoming 82nd meeting of IMO’s Marine Environment Protection Committee is also “an important stepping stone on the way to net zero”.
The meeting is expected to see discussions on the successful delivery of an ambitious and accelerated greenhouse gas reduction policy, Deggim added.
She admitted that shipping was currently experiencing an “unprecedented time of transformation”.
But Deggim pleaded: “It is self-evident that we can only successfully navigate this major transition and respond to the other evolving needs of agreement and sustainable maritime history if all maritime stakeholders work together.”
Deggim is confident that since shipping has undergone many successful transitions, this one is “ambitious, yet feasible”.
“Together, we can mobilise our ambitious goal to lead shipping into a decarbonised and sustainable future. We are actively working to ensure that shipping has a truly sustainable future so that people everywhere can continue to reap the benefits of an industry they fundamentally rely on but rarely see,” she concluded.
