UN Secretary General calls for zero emission ships by 2030

Written by Nick Blenkey
UN Sec Gen calls for zero emission ships

UN Secretary General António Guterres: Current IMO commitments are not aligned with the 1.5-degree goal of the Paris Agreement.[UN Photograph]

United Nations Secretary General António Guterres is adding his voice to those calling on shipping to up its decarbonization ambitions, calling actions thus far at IMO “some initial steps.”

In his opening address to the Second United Nations Global Sustainable Transport Conference, Secretary General Gutteres said that the COVID-19 pandemic had made it clear that transport is far more than a means of getting people and goods from A to B, but is “fundamental to implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Paris Agreement – which were badly off-track even before the pandemic hit.”

“We must decarbonize all means of transport, in order to get to net-zero emissions by 2050 globally,” said Gutteres. Turning his focus to shipping and aviation, he said that “while member states have made some initial steps through the International Civil Aviation Organization and the International Maritime Organization to address emissions from shipping and aviation, current commitments are not aligned with the 1.5-degree goal of the Paris Agreement.”

“In fact, they are more consistent with warming way above 3 degrees,” he continued. “Adopting a new set of more ambitious and credible targets that are truly consistent with the goals of the Paris Agreement must be an urgent priority for both these bodies in the months and years ahead.”

Spelling out priorities, the Secretary General said: “Zero emission ships must be the default choice, and commercially available for all by 2030, in order to achieve zero emissions in the shipping sector by 2050.”

Read the full transcript of the Secretary General’s remarks

Categories: Environment, News, Shipping Tags: , , , , ,