UNITED Nations global maritime decarbonization targets are at risk of not being met if nothing more is done, says the head of the agency's marine organisation, reports the Associated Press.
'What I'm finding is that there is more that can be done,' said International Maritime Organisation (IMO) secretary general Arsenio Dominguez, who gave a wide-ranging interview on the sidelines of Germany's recent Hamburg Sustainability Conference. 'The low hanging fruit is there.'
Mr Dominguez said such measures include using satellites to chart routes according to weather, in order to waste less fuel, cleaning the hulls of ships to reduce friction in the water and what is often referred to as slow steaming, or having a ship go slow, which burns less fuel and pollutes less.
Ultimately, major decarbonizing of the sector will take an overhaul of shipping fuel, said Mr Dominguez.
Today, most ships run on heavy fuel oil, which releases carbon dioxide along with sulphur, nitrogen and other pollutants.
Much cleaner fuels already exist, and many more are being developed, such as hydrogen, ammonia and biofuels. But they are more expensive, not yet available at scale and only better for the planet when made in clean ways.
Currently, the shipping industry is responsible for about three per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions. Their total emissions are expected to go up sharply in future decades unless major changes are made.
Other parts of the world economy have made strides at decarbonizing, such as the power and ground transportation sectors, thanks to electrification. Comparatively, little has happened in shipping.
Last year, the imo set a target to reach net zero by or around 2050, a goal that is a potential catalyst while also putting a spotlight on just how far the industry has to go.
The IMO is being pushed to move toward a carbon tax in part to be in line with what is already happening in some places, like the European Union.
Starting this year, large ships coming in and out of European ports pay taxes on their carbon dioxide emissions.
Starting in 2026, they will also pay for methane and nitrous oxide emissions, also greenhouse gases.
SeaNews Turkey
'What I'm finding is that there is more that can be done,' said International Maritime Organisation (IMO) secretary general Arsenio Dominguez, who gave a wide-ranging interview on the sidelines of Germany's recent Hamburg Sustainability Conference. 'The low hanging fruit is there.'
Mr Dominguez said such measures include using satellites to chart routes according to weather, in order to waste less fuel, cleaning the hulls of ships to reduce friction in the water and what is often referred to as slow steaming, or having a ship go slow, which burns less fuel and pollutes less.
Ultimately, major decarbonizing of the sector will take an overhaul of shipping fuel, said Mr Dominguez.
Today, most ships run on heavy fuel oil, which releases carbon dioxide along with sulphur, nitrogen and other pollutants.
Much cleaner fuels already exist, and many more are being developed, such as hydrogen, ammonia and biofuels. But they are more expensive, not yet available at scale and only better for the planet when made in clean ways.
Currently, the shipping industry is responsible for about three per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions. Their total emissions are expected to go up sharply in future decades unless major changes are made.
Other parts of the world economy have made strides at decarbonizing, such as the power and ground transportation sectors, thanks to electrification. Comparatively, little has happened in shipping.
Last year, the imo set a target to reach net zero by or around 2050, a goal that is a potential catalyst while also putting a spotlight on just how far the industry has to go.
The IMO is being pushed to move toward a carbon tax in part to be in line with what is already happening in some places, like the European Union.
Starting this year, large ships coming in and out of European ports pay taxes on their carbon dioxide emissions.
Starting in 2026, they will also pay for methane and nitrous oxide emissions, also greenhouse gases.
SeaNews Turkey
