Site icon AfricaBusiness.com

The Getting to Zero Coalition convenes to develop action plan for maritime decarbonization

Close to 100 representatives from across the maritime value chain convened this week in  Copenhagen for the Getting to Zero Coalition’s annual working session. The gathering, after two  long years of virtual events, took take place in person – with the objective of turning the ambition  of a full decarbonization of the maritime sector by 2050 into a concrete and actionable plan.  

Copenhagen, 24 July 2022 What should maritime stakeholders focus on in the coming years  to accelerate maritime decarbonization? At this week’s Getting to Zero Coalition Workshop,  participating Coalition members collaborated on detailing out an action plan to make the full  decarbonization of shipping concrete and tangible. Participants focused on the combination and  acceleration of four change levers: technology on land and on board, mobilizing demand, financing,  and policy. 

“Since the Coalition’s establishment in 2019, we have come a long way together on our journey to decarbonize  international shipping,” says Johannah Christensen, CEO of the Global Maritime Forum. “During this  workshop, it was clear that the members of the Coalition want to go further and faster. The action plan that  we developed together details out the steps we need to take collectively to reach our shared goal,” Johannah  Christensen continues. 

From Transition Strategy to Action List  

To explore and determine what the maritime sector must do in the short and medium term to  accelerate shipping decarbonization, workshop participants collaborated in working groups on  breaking down the Getting to Zero Coalition’s “Strategy for the Transition to Zero-Emission Shipping” into  concrete actions.  

“The transition to full decarbonization by 2050 is possible, but countries and companies with potential to  support and deploy zero-emission shipping this decade must increase engagement though more ambitious  and concrete steps. Now is the time for bold action. Those facing higher barriers must rapidly adapt and  prepare for the upcoming transition,” says Domagoj Baresic, Research Associate, University College  London (UCL)

Coalition aligns with the Call to Action  

In addition to its action focus, the workshop marked the Coalition’s alignment with that of the Call to  Action that was launched by the Getting to Zero Coalition in 2021, aiming for full decarbonization of  shipping by 2050. To reach that target, the development of industrial scale zero-emission shipping  projects and the adoption of policy measures to support the commercial deployment of zero emission vessels and fuels are needed, making ordering of zero-emission vessels the default choice  by 2030.  

“Decarbonizing shipping is critical and increasingly urgent to achieving net zero global emissions,” says  Keith Dawe, Decarbonisation and Energy Transition Lead, Cargill Ocean Transportation. “With  industry alignment on the Call to Action for Shipping Decarbonization, the Getting to Zero Coalition adds  further motivation for governments to empower the industry by sending a clear signal committing to full  decarbonization,” Keith Dawe continues.

Page 1 of 2 

Shipping’s decarbonization is a large-scale systemic challenge and opportunity Announced at the UN Climate Action Summit in New York in 2019, the Getting to Zero Coalition  now counts more than 200 member organizations within the maritime, energy, infrastructure, and  finance sectors, supported by key governments and IGOs.  

“Maritime decarbonization is integral to the achievement of sustainable global supply systems. The Getting  to Zero Coalition has demonstrated the importance of leadership and sectoral collaboration, while raising the  ambition for sustainable shipping and working towards zero-emission targets focused on just and equitable  outcomes,” says Margi Van Gogh, Head of Supply Chain & Transport Industries at The World  Economic Forum. 

About the Getting to Zero Coalition 

The Getting to Zero Coalition, a partnership between the Global Maritime Forum and World  Economic Forum, is a community of ambitious stakeholders from across the maritime, energy,  infrastructure and financial sectors, and supported by key governments, IGOs and other  stakeholders, who are committed to the decarbonization of shipping. 

The ambition of the Getting to Zero Coalition is to have commercially viable ZEVs operating along  deep-sea trade routes by 2030, supported by the necessary infrastructure for scalable net zero carbon energy sources including production, distribution, storage, and bunkering, towards a full  decarbonization by 2050. 

About the Global Maritime Forum 

The Global Maritime Forum (GMF) is an international not-for-profit organization dedicated  to shaping the future of global seaborne trade to increase sustainable long-term economic  development and human wellbeing. 

About the World Economic Forum 

The World Economic Forum (WEF) is the International Organization for Public-Private Cooperation.  The Forum engages the foremost political, business, cultural and other leaders of society to shape  global, regional and industry agendas. It was established in 1971 as a not-for-profit foundation and  is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland. It is independent, impartial and not tied to any special  interests.

Exit mobile version