Navigating a Sustainable Future: The 2030 Shipping Pact

A groundbreaking initiative took centre stage at COP28 with the introduction of the "2030 Shipping Pact For People and Nature." This forward-looking pact, endorsed by the UN's Race to Zero, is set to reduce global ship speeds by 25% by 2030, offering a holistic approach to address challenges in biodiversity, climate change, and pollution.

Championed by the Canadian activist group Equal Routes, the pact provides a strategic framework for the maritime sector to mitigate its impact on marine biodiversity and climate. Andrew Dumbrille, co-founder of Equal Routes, emphasised the opportune moment for the maritime industry, aligning with the revised International Maritime Organisation (IMO) greenhouse gas reduction targets and updated underwater radiated noise guidelines.

Shipping activities, recognised as a significant contributor to biodiversity decline, produce noise pollution affecting marine mammals and posing risks to their health and food security. Acknowledging the role of slower ship speeds in mitigating these impacts, the pact aims to reduce underwater noise, decrease the likelihood of whale strikes, and curb greenhouse gas emissions.

Key objectives of the 2030 Shipping Pact include a 25% fleet average speed reduction, a 50% decrease in underwater noise, an 80% reduction in whale strike mortalities, and a 40-50% cut in greenhouse gas emissions. This comprehensive approach aims to substantially contribute to meeting the IMO's revised GHG reduction targets of 30% by 2030, with positive implications for biodiversity.

The pact also outlines additional goals for 2030, including quadrupling the number of protected Particularly Sensitive Sea Areas, a global ban on heavy fuel oil, complete elimination of plastic waste, and stringent standards for effluent discharges.

Razan Al Mubarak, UN climate change high-level champion for COP28, underscored the unique position of shipping at the crossroads of climate change, pollution, and biodiversity loss. The pact's introduction signifies a commitment to align efforts and guide shipping toward a sustainable and low-carbon global future.

As the shipping sector embraces this transformative journey, the 2030 Shipping Pact unfolds as a roadmap for sustainable change, emphasising collaboration for the benefit of the planet and its inhabitants.

Read more here