22 countries support creating maritime routes for zero emission fuels at COP26

A few days before the end of the most important climate summit on the planet, some countries, including Spain, have committed to limiting the use of polluting fuels in ships in the coming decades

Spain and 21 other countries have signed the Clydebank Declaration at the COP26 in Glasgow, a “critical” agreement with which the signatory states commit to establishing “green maritime corridors” to reduce emissions from freight transport. This industry, which currently represents about 3% of the greenhouse gases (GHG) released into the atmosphere globally, is expected to contribute even more to climate change in the coming years and will represent up to 10% of global GHG emissions in 2050.

The idea presented in this declaration is to limit access to certain maritime routes to ships that use only clean fuel, that is, liquefied natural gas would no longer be worth it, which is a fossil fuel that Spain has opted for to advance towards decarbonization — and with the help of Brussels – but which emits about three tons of CO₂ per ton. From the middle of this decade, to circulate through at least six ecological maritime corridors, it would be necessary to opt for alternative sources to power these ships, such as green hydrogen or ammonia.

It is “a very important step”, especially considering that “maritime transport is still hooked on oil”

The language used in the text to define these clean fuels is blunt: “Completely decarbonized fuels or propulsion technologies must be capable of not adding additional GHGs to the global system throughout their life cycle, whether in production, transportation or consumption.

Compared to other agreements signed at the United Nations climate summit, which can get the support of more than 100 countries, such as in the case of deforestation or methane, the Clydebank declaration counts for the moment —as of November 10 — with the support of 22 States.

The reason, according to Tristan Smith, a shipping specialist and researcher at the University of College London, is that not many countries are in a position to transition to zero-emission fuels. For starters, not everyone has access to cheap, low-carbon hydrogen.

And, second, there has to be the circumstance of having maritime routes that make sense to re-green. “If you are a country that does not have good routes, good opportunities, from the point of view of risk, as well as low-cost hydrogen, it makes no sense for you to sign,” says this expert, adding that, under these conditions, the fact that at least 22 countries have signed the declaration is “a very important step”, especially considering that “maritime transport is still hooked on oil”, he tells Planeta A.

“The work we’ve done shows that about 5% of the world’s fleet power from zero-emission fuels by 2030 would suffice to replace all fossil fuels by 2050,” he says. This could be achieved with a global agreement from the International Maritime Organization, something very complicated, he says, because it would require a multilateral negotiation in which many companies commit to achieving something that “is not yet within their reach.” “Or it can be achieved with actions on a smaller scale, with a few countries that have the potential to make a real impact. And I think that’s what the Clydeback statement does, it allows us to get through these decades without relying on there being a short-term IMO solution.” Although, in any case, some regulation by the IMO will be needed.

From the NGO Seas at Risk, analyst Lucy Gilliam welcomes the initiative, but points out that what is needed to achieve the climate goals of the Paris Agreement is “a revolution in propulsion, and not just in fuels” and also change the production and consumption habits: “we need a system change in which we rethink what needs to be sent and at what speed”.

In addition, it judges that the Clydebank declaration proposes a not very ambitious calendar, since it proposes to develop and expand new fuels in maritime corridors from 2030, “and we know that in the current trajectory of maritime transport emissions, we will exhaust the budget of carbon in 2029”.

In order not to “lose the climatic battle”, this expert also suggests encouraging new propulsion systems, supporting, for example, wind technologies that can help reduce fuel consumption, and optimizing supply chains.

Wind-powered propulsion systems—which are not fabric sails like those used by 16th-century galleons but innovative technologies that harness the wind as the driving force behind ships—are perfectly scalable, according to Tristan Smith. For a time, investment in these systems was more stagnant, he stresses, “in part because oil was very cheap, when a barrel was around 30 or 40 dollars, before the pandemic.” But now that, with the Clydeback declaration, this commitment to more expensive fuels such as green hydrogen or ammonia has taken place, the increase in costs may encourage the use of wind propulsion technologies, as these increase efficiency and They can reduce fuel consumption by up to 30%.

Another aspect of this declaration that experts such as Bryan Comer, in charge of the marine program at the International Council for Clean Transportation, have highlighted to Planet A is that it will draw investment to create a port infrastructure capable of supplying renewable fuels to zero-emission ships that Navigate these routes converted into ecological corridors.

For her part, Aofi O’Leary, from Opportunity Green, adds that what is needed now are ambitious measures to also ensure that the decarbonization of shipping is done from a social justice perspective. “The Marshall Islands, which is a signatory to the declaration, has proposed to the International Maritime Organization a carbon levy that would set a $100 price on fuel, and this will be used to finance zero emission ships and build facilities in the ports”. This measure was also supported by another 54 countries vulnerable to climate change, which last week suggested taxing emissions from shipping in the Dhaka-Glasgow declaration.

Source: The Confidential