This year’s IMO Symposium, that took place on February 9-10, focused on alternative low-carbon and zero-carbon fuels for ships, while IMO’s Secretary General highlighted the need for forming partnerships within the industry.
In his opening remarks, IMO’s Secretary General, Kitack Lim, highlighted that climate change is one of IMO’s top priorities and also one of the biggest challenges.
I find it very encouraging to see how the adoption of IMO’s Initial GHG Strategy and its ambitious goal to decarbonize shipping by the end of this century, has sparked so many new actions across the maritime value chain related to alternative low-carbon fuels, in parallel with our regulatory work,
… Mr. Lim added.
IMO is committed to the decarbonization of shipping by developing an ambitious regulatory framework, that will drive innovation across all stakeholders but also by providing a forum for discussion, cooperation and collaboration.
To reach a low- and zero-carbon future for shipping, we will need new technologies, new fuels and innovation.
Mr. Lim noted that collaboration is the key, as no single stakeholder can make decarbonization of shipping a reality by acting alone. The programme of this symposium therefore emphasizes the importance of building partnerships and connecting the different actors in the maritime value chain.
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Also, IMO wants to further accelerate such initiatives by providing the global forum for sharing knowledge, to promote R&D, and to build partnerships between stakeholders, among public and private sectors, not only in the shipping industry and ports but also private and development banks, and academia at international, national and local levels.
As stated, collaboration will enable the industry define the strategic, regulatory and policy frameworks that is needed to attract the necessary investments, to put in place the required infrastructure and to ensure a safe use of low- and zero-carbon fuels.
There are leaders in this journey in the world, the ‘climate champions’, and some of them will present their latest innovations during this symposium.
In addition, in his opening, Mr. Lim explained that no country is left behind in the energy transition, and therefore this symposium also serves to highlight the opportunities for Member States to share knowledge of generating and supplying renewable marine fuels across the world and identify potential areas of collaboration and cooperation.
Therefore, IMO is expanding its portfolio of capacity building projects, which are in line with IMO’s ambitious goal in the GHG Strategy. For example, IMO’s GreenVoyage 2050 project focuses on assisting developing countries in achieving the levels of ambition set out in the IMO GHG Strategy by exploring alternative fuel opportunities.
