The IMO’s Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC77) met during the week of November, 22nd, to discuss the revision of the current 2050 greenhouse gas (GHG) target, as well as aligning with the goals of the Paris Agreement and establishing medium-term measures to reduce emissions, especially black carbon.
Towards the decarbonization of sea freight
Sea freight currently carries 80% of the world’s trade, accounting for 2% – 3% of global greenhouse emissions.
Science says that we must act urgently by 2030 to halve current sea freight emissions if we are to maintain the goal of limiting global warming to 1.5º Celcius.
This was discussed at the last Climate Summit in Glasgow (COP26), where the urgent decarbonization of the sector was supported.
As a result of this challenge, the International Chamber of Shipping has established the Goal Zero by 2050 Network, where they aim to extend zero-emission ships and fuels worldwide by 2050.
The “Getting to Zero” coalition and green corridors.
This coalition is a partnership between the Global Maritime Forum, the World Economic Forum and the Friends of the Ocean Association.
It brings together decision-makers from across the sea freight value chain with governments and intergovernmental organizations, as well as all key stakeholders in the energy sector.
The main ambition of this coalition is to have commercially viable zero-emission vessels (ZEVs) operating on trade routes by 2030.
These “green corridors” will be specific trade routes between major port hubs, where the adopted solutions will be demonstrated and endorsed as zero emissions.
At EccoNetwork we are proud to be pioneers in bringing sustainability to freight transport by calculating and reducing its carbon footprint, generating environmental awareness among all our members.