The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) is calling for swift action and system-wide collaboration to decarbonize maritime transport amid rising carbon emissions and regulatory uncertainty.
On Maritime Transport Report 2023, presented this Wednesday (27.09.2023), the agency highlights the pressing need for cleaner fuels, digital solutions and a fair transition to combat continued carbon emissions and regulatory uncertainty in the maritime transport sector.
The shipping sector accounts for more than 80% of global trade volume and nearly 3% of global greenhouse gas emissions, with emissions increasing by 20% in just one decade.
With respect, the UNCTAD Secretary-General Rebeca Grynspan, He said: “Shipping must be decarbonised as soon as possible, whilst ensuring economic growth. Balancing environmental sustainability, regulatory compliance and economic demands is vital for a prosperous, equitable and resilient future for shipping.”
The report recalls that the maritime trade volume contracted by 0,4% in 2022, reaching 12.027 billion tons, influenced by factors such as the growth of a weaker global economy, high inflation, and the disruption caused by Covid-19.
However, the publication forecasts that it will increase by 2,4% in 2023 and by 2,1% over the next five years, noting that the industry remains resilient and expects “continued but moderate” growth in trade volume for the medium term (2024-2028).
UNCTAD suggests that maritime trade patterns and trade routes are changing due to rising trade tensions and a new geography of transport and trade.
The text also stresses that the industry needs to be decarbonized as soon as possible and points out that so far in 2023, carbon dioxide emissions from international maritime transport were 20% higher than ten years ago.
As the maritime industry embarks on this “complex, transformative journey” towards decarbonisation, the report notes that it must do so while sustaining economic growth.
At the same time, UNCTAD warns that Alternative fuels They are not yet available at scale and are more expensive, while the ships that can use them are also more expensive than traditional vessels.
The Maritime Transport Report 2023 highlights that another element of change facing the sector is the digitalization, as maritime logistics are increasingly dependent on more efficient ports and digitalized processes.
In this regard, UNCTAD notes that while the Covid-19 pandemic disrupted global supply chains and logistics, it also led to increased innovation in the industry.Publication)
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