A group of 22 countries has pledged to develop zero-emission shipping corridors in the coming years as an initial measure to decarbonise ocean transportation, one of the hardest-to-abate industries. The pledge, called the Clydebank Declaration, aims to set up a pilot project which will include at least six routes where ships can access zero-emission fuels by 2025 before expanding to more and longer trade lanes or more vessels in the same corridors.
The group will complement the Zero-Emission Shipping Mission (ZESM), launched by Denmark, Norway, and the US in July. The ZESM has interim targets to put at least 200 zero-emission ships in operation and having such vessels account for 5% of bunker fuel demand in the world’s deep-sea trade before 2030. The three countries also signed the Clydebank Declaration along with Australia, Belgium, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Fiji, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Japan, the Marshall Islands, Morocco, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Spain, Sweden, and the UK.
Shipping industry players in the Getting to Zero Coalition welcomed the initiative, which is expected to boost access to low-emission fuel. Zero-emission bunker fuels are currently 25%-65% more expensive than oil-based fuels. The Clydebank Declaration is expected to close that cost gap.
