UK, US, Netherlands pledge at COP27 to roll out green maritime links

‘Green shipping corridors’ are specific maritime routes decarbonised from end to end, including both land-side infrastructure and vessels.

International zero-emission shipping routes came a step closer to turning a reality as the UK, the US, Norway and the Netherlands pledged to roll out green maritime links connecting the three countries at this year’s COP27 conference in Sharm el Sheikh. This follows the success of UK-led Clydebank Declaration on green shipping corridors at COP26.

Setting up such routes involves using zero-emission fuel or energy, putting in place refuelling or recharging infrastructure at ports, and deploying zero-emission capable vessels to demonstrate cleaner, more environmentally-friendly shipping on a given route. 

In particular, the United Kingdom and the United States have agreed to launch a special Green Shipping Corridor Task Force focussed on bringing together experts in the sector, encouraging vital research and development, and driving other important work and projects to see these initiatives come to life as quickly as possible, a UK government press release said.

Committing to roll out green shipping corridors will help the sector to comply with the Paris Agreement goal of limiting global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Centigrade by the end of the century, the release said.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS)