UK maritime sector pledges 2050 GHG neutrality support

A collection of the biggest shipping, seafarer and port associations in the UK have expressed their commitment to helping the UK achieve GHG neutrality by 2050.

News ID: 80431

Date: 14 September 2019 - 08:12

Leading companies and associations set out to push the climate change agenda, while also calling for investment in new technologies.

THE UK maritime sector has thrown its support behind the government’s plan to achieve net zero emissions by 2050 and called for greater investment in decarbonisation technologies.

In a letter to the UK government the country’s largest maritime bodies, including the promotional body for the UK maritime sector Maritime UK, the International Chamber of Shipping and Nautilus International, and companies such as Carnival UK applaud the government for its initiative to rid the country of greenhouse gas emissions.

Written by Maritime UK chairman Harry Theochari on behalf of the signatories, the parties say they are committed to tackling the impact of climate change, pollution and other harmful activities on oceans and  to delivering sustainable economic value to the communities they serve to improve society.

“To realise that target, industry will need to invest, and we call upon government to do the same, most particularly in support of new and viable decarbonisation technologies and the critical infrastructure to support their implementation,” he wrote.

The UK government passed a law in July that by 2050 the United Kingdom will be a net zero greenhouse gas emissions country.

International shipping, which is governed by the International Maritime Organization and has agreed to slash emissions by at least 50% by 2050, does not fall under the legislation.

The government and the industry co-launched the Maritime Research and innovation centre earlier this year to drive technological innovation in the sector.

“We now call on government to deliver substantial investment to support its work just as it has for aviation and automotive. Equally there needs to be investment in greening our maritime infrastructure,” Mr Theochari wrote.

In a separate initiative, the UK government announced this week it will spend £730,000 ($908,541) on different maritime skill and welfare initiatives.