Danish Shipping at COP30: The fight for the green transition of shipping is not over

Danish Shipping will participate in the UN climate conference in Belém, Brazil, including as host of a side event under the heading “Green transition of shipping: With or without the IMO”.

The green agenda suffered a setback when the vote on an ambitious agreement for concrete climate regulation of international shipping in the IMO was recently postponed for a year.

“After last month’s disappointment in London, it is more important than ever that we focus on strengthening communities and alliances with like-minded, climate-ambitious partners from around the world. This will bolster the work in the IMO over the next year, when we must continue to fight tooth and nail for the best possible agreement. Because it is, of course, through and within the IMO that we must tackle the major challenge posed by the green transition of shipping,” said Nina Porst, Executive Director of Climate, Environment and Security at Danish Shipping.

Shipping accounts for up to three per cent of global CO₂ emissions. It is therefore essential that the sector also takes responsibility for significantly reducing emissions if the fight for a more sustainable world is to succeed.

“We do not need any more lofty agreements and targets. We need concrete action that makes a difference in the real world. For shipping, this is above all about accelerating investment in and production of green fuels. It is obvious that COP30 should also be used, from a Danish perspective, to strengthen ties with countries such as Brazil — one of the strongest supporters of a global climate agreement for shipping in the IMO — as well as the other Mercosur nations. We need closer cooperation with all those who share our ambition of getting global climate policy back on track,” said Nina Porst.

Photo: UN Climate Change - Kiara Worth