- The event at COP 29 focused on decarbonizing international shipping, aviation, and land transport.
- IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez emphasized the need for sustainable and affordable fuels for all transport modes.
- The shipping sector has already improved its energy efficiency by over 20% since the first IMO climate regulations.
- Road transport contributes to over 69% of inland transport’s CO2 emissions, while shipping accounts for 2-3% of global emissions.
- The event highlighted the progress made by UNECE, ICAO, and IMO in reducing transport sector emissions.
Transport plays a crucial role in driving economic growth and connecting nations, but it is also a significant contributor to global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. International shipping, inland transport, and aviation are key sectors under the focus of international efforts to reduce emissions. At the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP 29), key stakeholders, including the International Maritime Organization (IMO), the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), and the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), gathered to discuss decarbonization strategies for these sectors, as reported by the International Maritime Organization.
Progress in Reducing Emissions
Arsenio Dominguez, the Secretary-General of IMO, noted that international shipping alone carries over 80% of global trade and has already seen a 20% improvement in energy efficiency since the implementation of IMO climate regulations. He stressed the importance of safe, affordable, and environmentally sustainable fuels to support the decarbonization of the transport sector, highlighting that these fuels might vary across sectors, but a unified effort to scale up their demand would boost production and availability.
Sectoral Emission Contributions
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has reported that inland transport is responsible for more than 72% of global energy-related CO2 emissions within the transport sector, with road transport accounting for 69%. In comparison, aviation contributes about 2.4% of global CO2 emissions annually, while maritime transport contributes approximately 2-3%. These figures underline the importance of addressing emissions across all transport sectors to meet global climate goals.
IMO’s Role and Strategy
The IMO’s 2023 strategy on reducing greenhouse gas emissions from ships provides a global framework for the shipping industry’s decarbonization. The strategy emphasizes the need for global rules to guide the transition to sustainable marine fuels and the critical role of technological innovation. The panel discussions at COP 29 highlighted how collaboration between governments, shipowners, charterers, shippers, fuel providers, and the port sector is essential to achieving meaningful progress in decarbonizing shipping.
Collaborative Efforts and Future Goals
The COP 29 event showcased the ongoing efforts of UNECE, ICAO, and IMO in tackling the climate impact of their respective transport sectors. It also emphasized the collaborative efforts of Member States and key stakeholders, who are collectively contributing to actions necessary to achieve carbon neutrality in the transport industry.
The discussions and progress made at COP 29 highlight the growing momentum towards decarbonizing transport, with a focus on creating a sustainable, low-carbon future for all sectors involved.
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Source: International Maritime Organization
