{"id":11027,"date":"2023-05-10T16:03:36","date_gmt":"2023-05-10T15:03:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/maritimafrica.com\/en\/?p=11027"},"modified":"2023-05-10T16:03:36","modified_gmt":"2023-05-10T15:03:36","slug":"unlocking-opportunities-for-green-shipping-in-africa-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/maritimafrica.com\/en\/unlocking-opportunities-for-green-shipping-in-africa-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Unlocking opportunities for green shipping in Africa"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Africa’s abundance of solar, wind and thermal energy across the continent can place Africa at the core of the global decarbonization of maritime transport, the IMO conference on Low-Carbon Shipping in Africa heard (5 May).<\/p>\n

Speaking at the Conference, held in In Mombasa, Kenya and co-organized with the Kenya Maritime Authority, Mr. Xiaojie Zhang, Director, Technical Cooperation Division, IMO, reminded delegates that 2023 is a critical year for maritime decarbonization, with Member States at the 80th session of IMO’s Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) in London the first week of July set to adopt IMO’s 2023 GHG Strategy.<\/p>\n

Mr. Zhang called on African nations to “to make your voice heard, and to unlock the great potential the phase out of greenhouse gas emissions of international shipping can generate in Africa.” “When IMO adopts this July a revised GHG Strategy with a clear phase\u2011out date of greenhouse gas emissions from international shipping, the global shipping industry will actively look at providers of alternative shipping fuels and African ports could become future energy hubs for low carbon shipping fuels,” Mr. Zhang said.<\/p>\n

He emphasized\u00a0the importance of carbon revenues that could be generated through an IMO economic measure – like a fuel levy – for financing port infrastructure, retrofitting capacity, or bunkering facilities across Africa.<\/p>\n

This theme was echoed by\u00a0Ambassador Ms. Nancy Karigithu, Special Envoy on Blue Economy, Kenya, who highlighted the range of range of financing mechanisms, such as public-private partnerships, climate funds, and green bonds, to support the transition to low-carbon shipping. She emphasized, too, the need for the transition in maritime to low-carbon shipping in Africa to consider the socio-economic dimensions of the challenge. “The transition needs to be inclusive and equitable,” she said.<\/p>\n

The Hon. Mr. Kwaku Ofori Asiamah, Minister of Transport, Ghana, echoed the call for Africa’s participation at IMO meetings, “to ensure our needs and concerns are addressed and also indicate our support or otherwise for global maritime regulations”.<\/p>\n

“Africa is the key to speeding up global climate action on the Decarbonization Agenda. With its young and growing workforce, vast lands and various natural resources, the continent has the potential to make an important contribution to tackle climate change. These assets could be crucial in driving global efforts to mitigate the effects of climate change, while creating new economic opportunities,” Mr. Ofori Asiamah said.<\/p>\n

The IMO conference on Low-Carbon Shipping in Africa focused on “Overcoming challenges by unlocking opportunities and investments”. It included panel sessions on:<\/p>\n