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Climate change call for action signed by 34 shipping industry leaders

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Thirty-four ceos and industry leaders have signed up to a call for action on the decarbonisation of shipping.

The 34 top executives signed the call for action at the Global Maritime Forum in Hong Kong and support the IMO's strategy to reduce shipping's CO2 emissions by at least 50% by 2050.

To achieved the goal of decarbonising shipping the ceos believe the maritime industry needs to accelerate both technological and business model innovation, further improve operational and technical energy efficiency, and transition to zero-carbon fuels and new propulsion systems.

Revolution needed in marine propulsion to meet IMO's 50% greenhouse gas reduction target

“Global seaborne trade’s transition to a low-carbon future will propel both technological and business model innovation. The right incentives for accelerated investment into R&D can only come about if we get a global IMO based regulation. We invite stakeholders from the entire maritime spectrum to join us on this new journey,” says Claus Hemmingsen, vice ceo of AP Moller – Maersk.

The ceos support the IMO's strategy and stress that legally binding, enforceable actions set by the IMO must be enforced by member countries to compel the industry to shift.

Paddy Rodgers, ceo Euronav: “Shipping has so far been exempt from regulations to address the issues around GHG emissions from fuels for ships but the IMO has, after consultation laid a pathway, which requires a fundamental change in the way we fuel our ships. Shipping must embrace these targets so let’s take our responsibility to make sure our industry is heading towards a sustainable future for ourselves and the next generations in line with the expectations of our global stakeholders.”

The industry leaders recommended that IMO's roadmap be aligned to seven core principles: ambitious, predictable, market-oriented, technology-enabling, urgent, coherent, and enforceable.

“Today we urge our peers from the entire maritime value chain to support decarbonization and work with us to deliver the IMO’s strategic goal of reducing GHG emissions. We encourage all of our customers and suppliers to demonstrate leadership through timely and appropriate action,” says Paul Wogan, ceo of GasLog.

The 34 signatories to the call for action are:

  • A.P. Moller – Maersk, Claus Hemmingsen, Vice CEO
  • Amsterdam Trade Bank, Harris Antoniou, Chief Executive Officer

  • Anglo Eastern, Jan Bjorn Hojgaard, Chief Executive Officer

  • Caravel Group, Harry Banga, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

  • Carbon Pricing Leadership Coalition, Angela Churie Kallhauge, Head

  • Cargill Ocean Tranportation, Jan Dieleman, President

  • Danish Ship Finance, Erik I. Lassen, Chief Executive Officer

  • Dorian LPG, John Hadjipateras, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

  • DS Norden, Jan Rindbo, Chief Executive Officer

  • Environmental Defense Fund, Bryony Worthington, Executive Director

  • Euronav, Patrick Rodgers, Chief Executive Officer

  • Fairmont Shipping Ltd., Robert Alexander Ho, Chairman

  • Gaslog, Paul Wogan, Chairman and Member of the Board of Directors

  • Hempel, Henrik Andersen, Chief Executive Officer

  • IRISL - Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines, Mohammad Saeidi, Chairman and Managing

    Director

  • KC Maritime HK Ltd., Vikrant Bhatia, Chief Executive Officer

  • LADOL, Amy Jadesimi, Managing Director

  • Liberian Registry, Scott Bergeron, Chief Executive Officer

  • Lloyd's Register, Alastair Marsh, CEO

  • Marine Capital Limited, Tony Foster, Chief Executive Officer

  • MISC, Yee Yang Chien, President and Group Chief Executive Officer

  • Maritime Strategies International Ltd., Adam Kent, Managing Director

  • Ocean Network Express Pte., Jeremy Nixon, Chief Executive Officer

  • Pacific Basin, Mats Berglund, Chief Executive Officer

  • Precious Shipping, Khalid Hashim, Managing Director

  • Rocky Mountain Institute, Jules Kortenhorst, Chief Executive Officer

  • Royal Arctic Lione A/S, Verner Hammeken, Chief Executive Officer

  • SKULD, Ståle Hansen, President and Chief Executive Officer

  • The North American Marine Environment Protection Association (NAMEPA), Carleen Lyden

    Walker, Co-Founder/Executive Director

  • SEACOR Holdings Inc., Charles Fabrikant, Chairman and CEO

  • The Ocean Council, Paul Holthus, Founding President and CEO

  • Trafigura, Jeremy Weir, Chief Executive Officer

  • University College London, Tristan Smith, Reader in Energy and Shipping

  • V.Group, Ian El-Mokadem, Chief Executive Officer