IMO and Norway partner on GHG emissions reduction project

Norway has committed US$1.1M to fund the initial two years of a project aimed at building capacity, expertise and momentum in the shipping sector’s bid to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.  

‘GreenVoyage 2050’ will see Norway and International Maritime Organization (IMO) working to transfer technology and technical know-how to eight developing countries in Asia, Africa, the Caribbean, Latin America and the Pacific region in support of IMO’s agreement to at least halve shipping GHG emissions by 2050.

IMO secretary-general Kitack Lim said he expected faster innovation and uptake given the project’s business element.

“I am particularly encouraged by the fact that the GreenVoyage-2050 project is designed with a private-sector partnership component," he said.

"This will accelerate the uptake of technology solutions by the industry… In this time of greater connectivity and more rapid technological advances than ever before, I cannot stress enough how timely the launch of this project is."

Mr Lim said the initiative would assist with legal and policy reforms, national action plans, private sector partnerships and new technology projects.

Eventually, the project is expected to be rolled out to more than 50 countries worldwide, with the initial eight pilot countries acting as “champions”, supporting other partner countries in their respective regions and building momentum for the project.

Norway said it intends to kick in additional funding for the project beyond its first two years, subject to governmental approvals.

The project supports delivery of at least two of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals on climate change and on sustainable use of the oceans.