The International Windship Association (IWSA) has issued an open letter to the Heads of State and delegates attending the 28th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28), calling on them to recognize ‘the vital role of direct wind propulsion energy use in the decarbonization of the maritime sector’.
SDG Delivery Fleet
The IWSA is also asking the COP28 delegates to back up their intentions with action, by funding an ‘SDG Delivery Fleet’. Taking its name from the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), this fleet would consist of small and medium-sized wind-assist and primary wind ships which, the IWSA says, could ‘supply very low emission and low-cost maritime transport solutions to regions at greatest risk of climate change impact, such as Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and Small Island Developing States (SIDS)’.
IWSA Secretary General, Gavin Allwright, said: ‘An SDG Delivery Fleet would effectively unplug SIDS and LDCs from fuel-dependent shipping and unlock fuel expenditure for use to deliver improvements to health and education provision and other SDGs. This SDG Delivery Fleet would create resilience, enhancing trade and serve as an adaptation tool – while at the same time delivering sustainable livelihoods, training and aspirational opportunities to coastal communities. It would “put people at the heart of climate action”.’
IWSA has also called for the creation of a level-playing field for direct, non-commoditised renewable energy sources, such as wind, that harness energy without the need to convert or store that energy.
Energy-centric approach
‘Adopting a balanced “energy-centric” approach in the areas of policy, regulation and finance would ensure that direct and highly valuable energy sources are not sidelined, undervalued and underfunded just at the time when we need to be scaling up all renewable energy sources,’ said Allwright. ‘This is an energy source that could deliver savings of up to 1% of global GHG emissions alone but would also lower the total cost of the energy transition in the shipping industry by effectively saving enough in fuel costs over the next 25 years to meet that transition price tag to the tune of $1-1.5 trillion, while all the time providing hundreds of thousands of quality, high skilled jobs.’
Completing its wish list of COP28 outcomes, the IWSA has called on the delegates to support the take-up of renewable energy in the maritime industry by actions such as ‘large-scale R&D subsidies, the removal of regulatory barriers and incentivising the building of new ships that are “wind-ready” on delivery’.
Allwright concluded his COP28 call for action by saying: ‘There is a huge opportunity here for the maritime sector to take a pioneering position in the fight to limit carbon emissions from industrial sectors with its unique access to this energy source. The percentage of wind powered ships needs to increase, and fast and the need for wind-powered ships servicing LDCs and SIDs is urgent.’
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Source: IWSA
