The maritime sector will take centre stage this weekend during the ongoing climate talks at COP28 in Dubai.

The 2023 United Nations Climate Change Conference or Conference of the Parties of the UNFCCC, more commonly referred to as COP28, is the 28th United Nations Climate Change conference, being held from 30 November until 12 December 2023 at Expo City, Dubai.

On December 10, over 200 maritime and energy sector leaders will convene with governments and other key stakeholders across the supply value chain at COP28 for the “Shaping the Future of Shipping: Delivering a Net Zero World” summit in Dubai.

The summit is the largest gathering of this kind to be held at a COP. It will provide a platform for stakeholders across the industry to discuss ambitious, practical and actionable solutions to advance infrastructure, fuel availability and financing, and set out how to prepare the maritime workforce to accelerate the transition to a low and zero carbon emissions economy.

The summit will build on discussions at COP28 to set a course for the industry and will provide recommendations to both the COP28 presidency and the IMO.

A host of high-profile names will attend the cross-industry decarbonisation summit at COP28. Some of the confirmed attendees include Kitack Lim, secretary general of the International Maritime Organization (IMO); Francesco La Camera, director-general of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA); Sturla Henriksen, special advisor, Ocean, at UN Global Compact, United Nations; Emanuele Grimaldi, chairman of the International Chamber of Shipping; Professor Lynn Loo, CEO of the Global Centre for Maritime Decarbonisation; and Nick Brown, CEO of Lloyd’s Register.

The flagship maritime event will be held at the Museum of the Future.

“IRENA projects that at least 50 per cent of all traded low carbon fuels will be transported by shipping by 2050,” says Professor Lynn Loo, CEO at the global centre for maritime decarbonisation. “This points to the critical link between the energy and transport sectors as we navigate the energy transition. The Shaping the Future of Shipping Summit at COP28 will bring together leaders and stakeholders of both the energy and transport sectors to work cooperatively and collaboratively towards meeting IMO’s decarbonisation goals of 2050 and indicative checkpoints of 2030 and 2040.”

Nick Brown, CEO of Lloyd’s Register, adds: “While there is much focus on zero-carbon solutions and fuels, there is a lot our industry can do now to drive improvements by harnessing operational efficiency, optimising performance and investing in our existing fleet of vessels.

“Our collective success in responding to the challenge ahead will depend on our ability to collaborate with stakeholders from across the maritime value chain to embrace the opportunities afforded by the energy transition. Shaping the Future of Shipping at COP28 will be a key forum for engaging with policymakers and international leaders to evaluate the urgent actions required to deliver on the rapidly approaching 2030 targets of a reduction in the total annual GHG emissions from international shipping by at least 20 per cent, striving for 30 per cent.”

Last week, COP28 head Sultan al Jaber came under scrutiny for insisting there is “no science” to suggest phasing out fossil fuels is the only way to achieve key climate targets.

Main image courtesy of The Museum of the Future.

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