As a leading global maritime nation, Denmark supports an ambitious strategy for the green transition of international shipping.
In July, the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) 175 Member States will begin the final negotiations on IMO’s climate strategy. Here, it must be decided what the reduction target for international shipping’s greenhouse gas emissions should be.
In order to ensure an ambitious result in July, Denmark is hosting an international high-level conference on green shipping. At the conference, challenges and solutions will be discussed with a view to supporting and promoting the possibilities of an ambitious result at the upcoming negotiations in the IMO.
Danish Minister for Industry, Business and Financial Affairs, Morten Bødskov:
“Shipping is a position of strength for Denmark, and the green transition of shipping is an important priority for the Danish government. Danish shipping companies are already at the forefront of reducing their greenhouse gas emissions but we need to ensure that all countries, including the disadvantaged, are ready to support the green transition of shipping. For international shipping to become climate neutral will require that alternative fuels and new technologies become widely available and competitive. This presupposes ambitious global regulation in the IMO. Therefore, I am excited about today’s conference and I hope that it will inspire and contribute to creating momentum for an ambitious result when the countries in the IMO sit down at the negotiating table this summer in London.”
Bo Cerup-Simonsen, CEO of the Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller Center for Zero Carbon Shipping:
“This is a decisive moment in the history of shipping and for the IMO. The climate crisis is accelerating, and as a global industry with a massive carbon footprint, the time is now to find common ground and develop a clear pathway towards zero by 2050. If we wait, we will not be able to demonstrate decarbonized shipping by 2030 or scale to global volumes by 2050. It is absolutely pivotal that the IMO Member States agree on a 2050 net-zero target from a well-to-wake perspective.”
Anne H. Steffensen, CEO, Danish Shipping.
“We have talked endlessly about the green transition of shipping. Now it’s time to act. We need to make sure that the new greenhouse gas strategy supports first movers in their endeavors to push the industry towards climate neutrality. Not only because it is the right thing to do, but also because there are growth and business opportunities in decarbonizing shipping.”
There will be 18 countries represented at the conference. The Minister for Industry, Business, and Financial Affairs, Mr. Morten Bødskov will deliver the closing remarks of the conference tomorrow.
The Ministry of Business and Industry's press phone: 91 33 70 07