On November 10ht at COP27, maritime industry leaders launched a joint statement highlighting the urgent need for coordination at all levels to not only reduce emissions, but also to make the maritime industry more resilient and equitable.
Shipping is currently in the emerging stages of its transition from fossil fuels to zero-emission energy sources,with over 200 pilot and demonstration projects in the pipeline. However, this is not enough and we need to rapidly scale up our actions by the middle of this decade to make zero-emission ships the default choice by 2030 or before, the statement reads.
Solely focusing on decarbonizing the shipping industry is insufficient. A truly sustainable path forward for the sector is a systemic challenge and requires a whole-system approach that considers social and planetary boundaries
This means it must be just and equitable for workers, communities, consumers, and countries and take into account the varied and unpredictable impacts of a changing climate on vulnerable states, other natural disasters and sources of geopolitical uncertainty that have profound impacts on infrastructure, global supply chains, and, ultimately, people. These impacts are particularly acute for Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and Least Developed Countries (LDCs), therefore industry must build the resilience of coastal and port infrastructure, natural ecosystems and the communities who are already being impacted.
Collectively, we are taking this whole-system approach to climate action by bringing together all levels of State and non-State actors from across the maritime ecosystem to radically collaborate and develop the technology, policies and incentives that are needed to enhance climate resilience, create decent work, ensure social inclusion and unlock inclusive sustainable economic growth.
According to the statement, the following areas can help to shape and influence the necessary, effective, and enforceable policy and regulatory frameworks.
- Supply and Demand Signals
- Investment and Financing
- Resilience
- Socially just and globally equitable transition
Furthermore, this leadership and action across the non-state actors further calls upon Governments to advance ambitious policies that provide the clarity and confidence that the sector needs to unlock further investment in a zero emission, sustainable and resilient maritime sector.
It includes the following stakeholders and initiatives:
- World Economic Forum – host of the Getting to Zero Coalition and First Movers Coalition
- UN Global Compact – host of the Ocean Stewardship Coalition and co-host of the Maritime Just Transition Task Force (alongside the International Transport Workers’ Federation and the International Chamber of Shipping)
- Global Maritime Forum – host of the Getting to Zero Coalition, Poseidon Principles, Poseidon Principles for Marine Insurance, and Sea Cargo Charter
- High Level Climate Champions – leading the Race to Zero, Race to Resilience, and Glasgow Financial Alliance for Net Zero (GFANZ) campaigns
- The Aspen Institute – facilitator, Cargo Owners for Zero Emission Vessels (coZEV)
- Resilience Rising – host of the Resilience4Ports Programme
- Global Centre for Maritime Decarbonisation
- University Maritime Advisory Services
We strongly believe that the entire maritime value chain including non-state actors and state actors will work together to meet our ambitious and achievable goals.