In a major development, the Getting To Zero Coalition, a group of 120 odd organizations working to towards making zero emission vessels a reality, have made their first meeting last month in Copenhagen which sets the ball rolling for actual plan of work, reports Safety4Sea.
What is it?
Launched at the UN Climate Action Summit in New York on 23 September 2019, Getting to Zero Coalition is an alliance of more than 120 public and private organizations across the maritime, energy, infrastructure and finance sectors, who share one common ambition; that commercially viable zero emission vessels need to operate along deep sea trade routes by 2030 to meet decarbonization targets. The Coalition has also been endorsed by governments in 14 countries.
They met for the first time on 25 February, to advance a work-plan for the coming 2 years
How Doable Is This Project?
The ambition is closely aligned with the IMO’s Initial GHG Strategy: to reduce the total annual greenhouse gas emissions from international shipping by at least 50% of 2008 levels by 2050, whilst pursuing efforts towards phasing them out as soon as possible in this century.
Encouraging First Meeting
“We are encouraged by the leadership and optimism that was evident in today’s working session. Members of the Getting to Zero Coalition have a genuine and shared desire to meet our ambitious targets in the agreed timeline. I’m excited that we now have four practical workstreams through which we can advance the work of the Coalition,”
…says Johannah Christensen, Managing Director, Head of Projects & Programmes at the Global Maritime Forum.
The Work Plan
Under Tuesday’s meeting, it was agreed that each of the four workstreams of the Getting to Zero Coalition will have its own series of working sessions and outputs. They are designed to:
- Explore fuels, technologies & transition pathways, by narrowing technology and fuel options as well as mapping out safety implications, guidelines and required regulations for scaling up new fuels.
- Motivate first movers to kickstart shipping’s zero emission future, by exploring policies, demand drivers and funding mechanisms to motivate and de-risk first mover investments.
- Close the competitiveness gap for zero emission shipping, by exploring policy instruments and market-based measures to close the competitiveness gap between conventional and zero emission fuels and associated infrastructure to encourage mass uptake.
- Explore global opportunities for zero emission fuels exports, by mapping countries with the potential to generate and export zero emission fuels.
Everyone Committed To This
“I am struck by the level of engagement from every part of the maritime value chain – and beyond – represented here today. Maritime is one of the so called hard to abate industrial sectors and the sector has chosen to see that as a challenge to take action rather than an excuse to do nothing. The commitment to put net zero carbon ships in the water by 2030 shows true leadership in the response to the climate emergency,”
…says Anthony Hobley, Executive Director, Mission Possible Platform, World Economic Forum.
“The Getting to Zero Coalition is a shining example of how business can and must collectively collaborate to raise the level of ambition and increase the pace for the transition to a low carbon economy. This is good for people, planet, ocean and economies”,
…says Kristian Teleki, Director, Friends of Ocean Action.
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Source: Safety4Sea
