In response to the Green Shipping Challenge formulated jointly by the Governments of Norway and the United States, Norwegian maritime actors commit to far-sighted cooperation to achieve zero emissions for the maritime sector.
The Green Shipping Challenge, whose primary aim is to catalyse the global transition to green shipping, was issued as part of a joint statement on climate by Norwegian Prime Minister Johas Gahr Støre and Special Presidential Envoy on Climate John Kerry in May 2022.
The Norwegian collaboration was formally announced on today at a high-level launch event during COP27 in Egypt. Prime Minister Støre attended alongside Mr Kerry and Norwegian Climate and Environment Minister, Espen Barth-Eide. The Norwegian maritime partners was represented by Confederation of Norwegian Enterprise (NHO) President, Svein Tore Holsther.
Participants in the Norwegian collaboration will strive towards reducing emissions from shipping by 50% by 2030, in line with the Norway’s national climate goals. This comes in addition to the current target of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) to reduce CO2 emissions from global shipping by at least 40% by 2030 and 70% by 2050.
— Norway aims to be a leading nation in green shipping. Through this collaboration throughout the value chain, we can reduce the risk of investing in green, maritime technology. We need to secure joint access to test facilities for new energy solutions and make a joint effort to establish new markets. This will contribute to emission cuts, create new jobs along the entire coast, and result in new green export income, says Håvard Tvedte, interim CEO of Maritime CleanTech.
Alongside efforts to improve the energy efficiency of existing vessels, the partners undertake to develop, design and build the zero-emission vessels of the future. Achieving 2030 national climate goals will require 700 low-emission and 400 zero-emission ships in Norway alone.
Norwegian financial partners with maritime patronage will utilise capital instruments to support green measures and projects through the provision of risk capital and financial advisory services in line with regulatory requirements and expectations. Norwegian government support for green initiatives and infrastructure development for fossil-free energy sources will also play a key role.
Collaboration participants comprise GCE Blue Maritime (maritime cluster centre of excellence), NCE Maritime CleanTech (Cluster for Clean Maritime Solutions, Næringslivets Hovedorganisasjon (The Confederation of Norwegian Enterprise, NHO), Norsk Industri (The Federation of Norwegian Industries), Norges Rederiforbund (Norwegian Shipowners Association), Kystrederiene (Norwegian Coastal Shipowners), Maritimt Forum (Maritime Forum industry association), Havila Kystruten (Havila Voyages), Hurtigruten, Kongsberg (marine technology) and DNV (classification society).
About the Green Shipping Challenge
The Green Shipping Challenge is designed to encourage concrete actions from countries, ports, companies and other actors in the shipping value chain to help put the shipping sector on a pathway this decade to align with the Paris Agreement goal to limit global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees C.
Announcements will be highlighted at the COP27 launch event and posted on the Green Shipping Challenge website.