Referring to yesterday's communication from the Commission European Union, which has presented recommendations for the achievement of the the 2040 emissions reduction target and Setting the path to climate neutrality in 2050 ( of 6 February 2024), today the World Shipping Council (WSC), the international organisation representing the containerised shipping, urged the EU Commission and international partners to develop these objectives into a plan that be clear about the scope of the investment and support necessary to facilitate this transition.

The WSC pointed out that the Commission's recommendations for the EU's 2040 climate targets, 'are ambitious and crucially important initiatives, especially in the light of the updates suggesting that the EU's 2030 targets may not be reached." The association has pointed out that, with regard to maritime transport, 'the Member States EU objectives recognise the need to incentivise the production of green marine fuels and to give the sector priority in access to green fuels'. 'Committing the EU to zero-fuel production greenhouse gas emissions - the WSC noted - is essential, not least because the European Member States account for a fifth of the of global energy sales to the shipping sector. The achievement of the 2040 targets - noted the World Shipping Council - must lead to the establishment of new shipping facilities energy production to provide the maritime sector with fuels to greenhouse gas emissions, which will require significant financial investments. In addition, it is essential to Deployment of infrastructure to support the adoption and distribution of these alternative fuels throughout the sector'.

"EU politicians - remarked the WSC Europe Director for the Environment. James Corbett - Must translate these regional targets into greater national commitments to the in order to produce the fuels required by EU regulations such as the FuelEU Maritime. The liner transport sector is already investing in ship technologies with the aim of using renewable marine fuels, and global decarbonisation to the entire shipping sector depends on EU support for the reaching an international agreement at the MEPC of the IMO'.

In that regard, the WSC pointed out that 'the Reaching agreement on a global fuel standard and the establishment of a pricing mechanism greenhouse gas emissions at the International Maritime Organization requires European leadership that goes beyond climate goals 2040. These measures, the association stressed, are key to creating a coherent and fair framework for the global maritime industry can innovate and invest in zero-emission solutions'. "Only through action and the creation of an enabling policy environment - concluded the WSC - we can ensure the success of the transition of the maritime industry to a net-zero greenhouse gas future, in line with our shared climate goals."