Global organisations call on policy makers to fully decarbonise shipping by 2050

Full decarbonization of international shipping is urgent and achievable. This is the clear message from more than 150 industry leaders and organizations representing the entire maritime value chain, including shipping, cargo, energy, finance, ports, and infrastructure.

In conjunction with the UN General Assembly and ahead of critical climate negotiations at COP26 in Glasgow this November, they call on governments to work together with industry to deliver the policies and investments needed to reach critical tipping points in decarbonizing global supply chains and the global economy.

Signatories to the Call to Action for Shipping Decarbonization include some of the world’s largest actors in global trade: Anglo American, A.P. Moller - Maersk, BHP, BP, Cargill Ocean Transportation, Carnival Corporation, Citi, Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering, ENGIE, Euronav, Hapag-Lloyd, Lloyd’s Register, Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company, Panama Canal Authority, Port of Rotterdam, Rio Tinto, Shell, Trafigura, Ultranav, Volvo, and Yara.

Dr Tristan Smith, Reader in Energy and Shipping at UCL Energy Institute said:

“Shipping’s decarbonisation and transition is getting squeezed from both ends – every year delay in the initiation of deep absolute GHG reduction brings forwards the point at which we have to reach zero to avoid dangerous climate change. Action by corporates/countries/regions/IMO can’t wait for one another to go first – all have to go fast now and fully commit or fail."

The Call to Action for Shipping Decarbonization has been developed by a multi-stakeholder taskforce convened by the Getting to Zero Coalition – a partnership between the Global Maritime Forum, the World Economic Forum, and Friends of Ocean Action. Members of the taskforce include Cargill Ocean Transportation, Citi, the COP26 Climate Champions team, the Energy Transitions Commission, Lloyd’s Register, Port of Antwerp, Torvald Klaveness, Trafigura, Yara, and UMAS.

UMAS is a sector focussed, commercial advisory service that draws upon the world leading expertise of the UCL Shipping Team combined with the advisory and management system expertise of UMAS International Ltd.

Links:

• Call to Action for Shipping Decarbonization
• Getting to Zero Coalition
• UMAS
• Shipping research at UCL Energy Institute
• Dr Tristan Smith