New Green Shipping Challenge Announcements at COP28: Leading the Global Energy Transition

For Immediate Release

FACT SHEET

December 1, 2023

Greenhouse gas emissions from the shipping sector are significant and rising. On their current trajectory, these emissions would be incompatible with the temperature goal of the Paris Agreement. If shipping were a country, the sector would rank among the top 10 largest emitters globally.

The United States and Norway are leading the Green Shipping Challenge to encourage governments, ports, and companies to commit to further ambition and to spur the global transition to green shipping.

On December 1, during the World Climate Action Summit of COP 28, Minister Jonas Gahr Støre and Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry chaired a new round of announcements under the Green Shipping Challenge; this year’s event was also co-hosted by Denmark and France. Prime Minister Frederiksen (Denmark), Prime Minister Rabuka (Fiji), among other country ministers and high-level private sector leaders, joined the Green Shipping Challenge event.

This year, the Challenge featured new facets of action, including announcements on the just transition of the workforce in the context of maritime decarbonization; announcements that support the implementation of the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) 2023 IMO Strategy on Reduction of GHG Emissions from Ships (2023 IMO GHG Strategy) in developing countries, in particular small island developing states (SIDS) and least developed countries (LDCs); and making new public-private commitments to action on green shipping.

Countries, ports, and companies made more than 60 major announcements or updates to announcements on issues such as new green shipping corridors; integration of new zero and near-zero emission fuels and technologies; new training frameworks for seafarers on new maritime fuels; and supporting the overall implementation of the 2023 IMO GHG Strategy long-term goal and indicative checkpoints. This year’s announcements include:

New Announcements

Amazon: Amazon and other Cargo Owners announce Zero-Emission Maritime Buyers Alliance (ZEMBA).
American Bureau of Shipping (ABS): The Caribbean Green Shipping Corridor Initiative identifies energy efficiency optimization and emissions reduction opportunities for Caribbean Nations.
American Bureau of Shipping (ABS): The Gulf of Mexico Green Shipping Corridor (GOM GSC) develops a broad Stakeholder group across the global energy value chain.
American Bureau of Shipping (ABS): The Antwerp-Bruges – Houston Green Shipping Corridor (AB-H GSC) connects global major energy hubs for movement of green bulk fuels and chemicals.
ASKO Maritime: Asko announces an all-electric Sea Route in a Green Intermodal Corridor.
Australia: Australia announces a Maritime Emissions Reduction National Action Plan.
Belgium: Belgium promotes inclusive negotiations for the Implementation of the 2023 IMO GHG Strategy.
Belgium: The Belgian fleet becomes greener on the way to zero emissions.
Belgium: Port of Antwerp-Bruges to become import hub for green hydrogen.
Blue Visby Services Ltd: Working with a consortium of thirty of the most prestigious companies and institutions in maritime trade, Blue Visby aims to reduce shipping GHG emissions by 15 percent from today’s fleet through eradicating the practice of “sail fast, then wait.”
Canada: Canada announces the establishment of a Green Shipping Corridors Program.
Clean Energy Marine Hubs: Momentum grows for Clean Energy Hubs as Brazil and Port CEOs of Hamburg, Açu, Halifax, and Antwerp join the Clean Energy Marine Hubs (CEMHubs).
Danish Maritime Authority/Ministry of Industry, Business and Financial Affairs: Denmark supports implementation of the 2023 IMO GHG Strategy in developing countries.
Danish Maritime Authority/Ministry of Industry, Business and Financial Affairs: Denmark announces plans to support the development of Green Shipping Corridors worldwide.
Fortescue: Fortescue “Green Pioneer” will be world’s first ammonia capable ship.
France: France announces enhancement of government support for investments in maritime shipping decarbonization.
Germany: Germany support implementation of the 2023 IMO GHG Strategy in developing countries through various IMO funds and programs.
Germany: Germany announces a National Action Plan towards Zero Emission Shipping.
Hellenic Marine Environment Protection Association (HELMEPA): METAVASEA: A people-centered transition for maritime decarbonization in the East Mediterranean.
Höegh Autoliners: Höegh Autoliners has invested $1.2 billion in building 12 new net zero ammonia-ready car carriers that will decarbonize international shipping.
Japan: Japan enhances efforts towards developing Green Shipping Corridors, including development and introduction of zero-emission ships and Carbon Neutral Port Initiative.
Klaipėda State Seaport Authority: The Klaipėda State Seaport Authority announces development of actions and measures, towards a decarbonized maritime transport.
Lithuania: Lithuania joins the Clydebank Declaration to support the development of green shipping corridors.
Mærsk McKinney Møller Center for Zero Carbon Shipping: New green corridors worldwide.
Mærsk McKinney Møller Center for Zero Carbon Shipping Pre-feasibility study in Namibia.
Maritime Just Transition Task Force: Baseline Training Framework for Seafarers in Decarbonization.
Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. (MOL): Wind Challenger – MOL’s wind powered vessel “SHOFU MARU” sets sail.
Namibia: Namibian Green Hydrogen Program to develop Green Maritime Corridors with Maersk McKinney Moller Institute for Zero Carbon Shipping.
Netherlands: Supporting developing countries with implementation of the 2023 IMO GHG strategy by means of donation to GreenVoyage2050.
Norway: Norway’s Enhanced International Actions Towards Zero Emission Shipping – support to developing countries.
Norway: Norway’s enhanced domestic Actions Towards Zero Emission Shipping – tailor-made zero emission requirements for domestic shipping and establishment of a climate partnership with the maritime sector.
Pacific Blue Shipping Partnership: Inter-governmental Partnership (Fiji, Kiribati, Republic of the Marshall Islands, Solomon Islands, Kingdom of Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu).
Port of Helsinki Ltd and Port of Tallinn Ltd: FIN-EST Green Corridor, Ports of Tallinn and Helsinki, together with cities and shipping companies, accelerate zero emissions.
Republic of Korea: Supporting capacity building for SIDS and LDCs to implement the 2023 IMO GHG Strategy.
The Aspen Institute: Additional climate-leading cargo owners join freight buyer collaborations to decarbonize maritime shipping.
United Kingdom: U.S. – UK Green Shipping Corridors Taskforce and future engagement.
United Kingdom: Bilateral green shipping corridors agreements.
United Kingdom: UK support of developing countries to deliver the 2023 IMO GHGStrategy.
United States: Supporting Implementation of the 2023 IMO GHG Strategy in developing countries, in particular SIDS and LDCs.
Wallenius Wilhelmsen: Green energy new-builds for a net-zero end-to-end offering by 2027.
Wallenius Wilhelmsen: Commitment to making wind propulsion a reality again.
Yara International: World’s first clean ammonia powered container vessel, first decarbonized shipping route between Norway and Germany.
Zéphyr & Borée: Announces Canopee, the first modern sail-powered cargo ship.

Announcement Updates

A.P. Moller–Maersk: Maersk Signs a General Protocol for Collaboration with the Spanish Government to Explore Large-Scale Green Fuels Production in Spain.
Chile: The Chilean Green Corridors Network Pre-Feasibility Study has finalized; feasibility Studies are in progress.
DP World: DP World Chairman and Group CEO, Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem announced the company intends to invest up to $500 million to cut CO2 emissions from its operations by nearly 700,000 tons over the next five years.
Lloyd’s Register Maritime Decarbonization Hub: Silk Alliance identifies its first baseline fleet for Singapore Cluster and class for further collaborators.
Los Angeles – Long Beach – Shanghai Green Shipping Corridor Partnership / Port of Los Angeles, Port of Long Beach, Shanghai Municipal Transportation Commission (SMTC) and C40 Cities: Presentation of the Los Angeles – Long Beach – Shanghai GSC Implementation Plan.
Los Angeles – Long Beach – Singapore Green and Digital Shipping Corridor/ Port of Los Angeles, Port of Long Beach, Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore, and C40 Cities: The unveiling of the Los Angeles – Long Beach- Singapore Green and Digitial Shipping Corridor Partnership Strategy Document.
Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller Center for Zero Carbon Shipping: New green corridors in the Global South/Developing Countries.
Mærsk McKinney Møller Center for Zero Carbon Shipping: Launch of the Updated Blueprint for Green Shipping Corridors.
Netherlands: Launch customership for Sustainable Zero Emission Ships.
Netherlands: United Kingdom: UK joins forces with the United States, Norway, and the Netherlands to roll out end-to-end Green Shipping Corridors.
Northwest Seaport Alliance: U.S.-Korea Green Corridor Project & associated decarbonization initiatives.
Norway: Norway’s Enhanced Domestic Actions Towards Zero Emission Shipping.
Norway: Norway’s Enhanced International Actions Towards Zero Emission Shipping.
Port of Seattle: Fueling progress in the Pacific Northwest.
United Kingdom: International Green Corridor Fund with the Netherlands, Norway, and Denmark.
United Kingdom: Clydebank Declaration for Green Shipping Corridors: Clydebank family grows at COP28.
United States: Facilitating Green Shipping Corridors in the United States and worldwide.

Further details on these announcements, including announcement abstracts, are available at GreenShippingChallenge.org.

Since the 2022 launch of the Green Shipping Challenge by Norway and the United States, there have been over 80 major announcements involving 50 of countries, ports, and major industry stakeholders.

For media inquiries, please contact ClimateComms@state.gov

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