Welcome to World of Decarbonization

The challenging task of decarbonizing supply chain networks requires new and innovative practices and expanded collaboration.

Meaningful actions and leadership by cargo owners are playing a key part in the maritime decarbonization story. It is fascinating to hear and discuss how cargo owners are engaging with the maritime industry to influence decision making, support innovation and accelerate the reduction in GHG emissions. This may take the form of direct intervention or simply influential signals. The dialogue and collaboration between freight logistics stakeholders will have multiple benefits not least driving environmental sustainability but will also help increase efficiency and profitability.

Ports can act as enablers for green transition! But maritime business has many stakeholders and interdependencies. A joint vision and shared roadmaps are crucial!

Maritime decarbonization is the greatest challenge faced by shipping this century, and it can only be addressed through unprecedented collaboration across value chains. Bold industry leadership can help trigger an ambition loop, giving confidence to governments to raise their ambitions as well.

Developing ports with energy node capabilities is a key enabler for the transport ecosystem to contribute to the world’s efforts on decarbonization in its transition to a more sustainable society - both in their roles enabling maritime decarbonization and for serving the needs of fossil-free fuel distribution at global scale

Maritime decarbonization - what is required and what can be done? We invited over 70 practitioners and researchers to pass on their observations, knowledge and practical experiences in tackling the pressing challenge of maritime decarbonization. We think that their input provides a fundamental base and a guide for accelerated action by those operating across the decarbonization ecosystem.

The good news is that although the optimisation of voyages requires changes in processes and training for personnel, it does not require any investment in new fuels, retrofits, or other physical devices. The changes are ultimately undertaken by shipping companies and ships’ crews, but many of them can be supported, enhanced or enabled by digitalisation and automation.

It is understandable that the repowering of vessels with renewable energy dominates research and discussion on maritime decarbonization. Only this option can ultimately deliver carbon neutral shipping. But let’s not under-estimate the contribution that a host of other carbon-reducing initiatives can make, often at lower cost and more quickly.

Decarbonization is all our futures.

Decarbonizing the maritime industry is crucial as a significant contributor to greenhouse gas emissions. With their pivotal role in maritime transportation and a vital trade hub, ports have a significant impact in terms of carbon emissions. Implementation of sustainable practices, such as shore power from renewable energy sources and providing green energy for port users, is a must to steer ports towards a cleaner future and can contribute to substantial progress towards tackling climate change, meeting sustainability goals, and protecting the well-being of local communities. Transforming ports into pioneers of a sustainable maritime industry will drive us closer to a low-carbon world and allow us to meet our obligation to protect the planet for future generations.

The decarbonization of the maritime sector is a highly complex process which will play out over the coming decades. How each stakeholder chooses to navigate this will ultimately determine success or failure, and hence a solid view of the myriad interwoven options is a must for all industry participants.

The logistics industry most likely needs various different solutions for reaching the emissions reduction goals. It is important to openly discuss the options, their suitability to different vessel types and market areas, their availability, and their true GHG effect. ‘What can we do right now?’ is also an important question.

Shipping cannot decarbonize without its workers; they are the very heart of our industry. The shipping industry has a responsibility to make sure we bring our workforce on this decarbonization journey with us, so that no-one is left behind.

The shipping industry knows it has a huge part to play in global decarbonization in the coming decades, transporting the new green fuels that the world’s economy needs.

Decarbonizing the maritime sector is crucial to keeping planetary warming to well below 1.5°C, in line with the Paris Agreement. However, we need to move beyond the carbon tunnel-vision to other sustainability elements – from the labour and human rights of the workers producing alternative fuels to the impacts of new port infrastructure on local communities, ecosystems, and livelihoods. Doing so will build the foundation for a resilient, futureproof maritime industry as we look to 2050.

Tracking the embodied carbon in products, as well as preserving critical raw materials, will be a requirement in future maritime supply chains, to enable resource consumption to be decoupled from growth trajectories. Circular economy constructs and digital product passports can facilitate this through the exchange of data and information that will enable sound decision-making in support of data-enabled repair, remanufacturing, or recycling.