Unite to reduce carbon emissions in maritime industry, player told

Maritime players in Africa have been challenged to combine efforts to reduce carbon footprint geared towards the de-carbonization of the sector in the continent.

The shipping industry is said to globally contributing about 2.5 per cent of greenhouse emissions.

Speaking during the first International Maritime Organization conference on low carbon shipping in Africa held in Mombasa, Kenya’s special envoy for Maritime and Blue Economy Ambassador Nancy Karigithu said the continent should be united by a shared common interest in protecting the environment in the marine sector.

“Climate change remains a constant threat to the world, and the African region is not exempted, that’s why we need to resolve and forge a collective front in the fight against climate change. We need to be committed to the cause of the de-carbonization of the maritime sector in the continent,” Karigithu said.

He said as the world crosses the 1.5-degree centigrade in global warming, Africa could be approaching catastrophic levels of up to a 3-degree centigrade rise in temperatures.

This she said will have adverse effects on about 250 million people already experiencing hunger and about 60 million children facing malnutrition, placing the mitigation cost to the continent at about 1.9 per cent to 16 per cent of its GDP.

“At the backbone of this is the emergence of vector bone diseases like malaria exacerbated by climate change and increased flooding risks costing up to $10 billion,” Karigithu said.

She called for the development of green post infrastructures saying the transition of low-carbon shipping in Africa, will require the deployment of innovative and sustainable technology that will lower carbon emissions while maintaining the sector’s efficiency and competitiveness.

She further called for the use of single window systems to improve efficiency, adding that strategies needed to lower the carbon footprint in the continent should take into account the needs of the communities.

“We can create opportunities in green industries and renewable energy, we also need to look at retraining and retooling for those who might be affected to make them remain relevant to the new dawn,” she said.

Also speaking at the conference, the Ghanaian minister for Transport Kwaku Ofori reiterated that the reduction of carbon emissions in the shipping industry is vital for the health of the planet.

Ofori called on African states to support efforts geared towards low carbon emissions in the shipping industry.

He noted with concern that over the years, the industry has employed heavy fuels to move cargo around the world, which have significantly contributed to the release of carbon greenhouse gases affecting the environment.

“The shipping industry must embrace de-carbonization by bringing and embracing new technologies including automation to reduce its carbon footprint”.

“The reduction of shipping carbon footprint will require tremendous changes in how ships are designed, built, operated as well as the need of training and education of crew to operate the new vessels,” Ofori said.

Ofori called on IMO to lead the campaign but consider developing. He said middle-income countries contribute less to the carbon emissions yet bare the full brunt of climate change effects.

“I encourage African states to participate in such meetings internationally to ensure that the interests of the continent are put for consideration,” he said.

He further challenged the Association of African Maritime Administration, the coordinating body for maritime administration in Africa, to play its function to promote the development of the African maritime regulatory framework.

He added that the association must promote good practices among African maritime administrations to enable the global improvement of the African maritime sector, and help build global consensus on issues of global interest.

-Edited by SKanyara