The Clydebank Declaration: Green corridors kickstarting the adoption of long-term solutions28 March 2022

What is the aim?

The primary aim of the Declaration is to put the maritime sector on track to achieve net-zero by 2050. The sector is under increasing pressure to update its current target of reducing overall greenhouse gas emissions from ships by at least 50% compared to 2008 levels by 2050. The Declaration can be seen as a positive step in demonstrating that the industry is making serious commitments to achieve a low-carbon future.

Four principles to have regard to

Participation in the Declaration is voluntary, meaning that the corridors will arise from partnerships only between those ports and operators that are willing to decarbonise specific, shared maritime routes. Despite this, signatory nations pledge to collaborate to:

1. establish partnerships with all stakeholders, including ports and operators along the value chain to accelerate the sector towards a net-zero future;
2. address the technical and operational challenges of green corridors, including regulatory frameworks, incentives, intra-network collaboration and infrastructure;
3. include green corridor provisions in the development or review of national action plans; and
4. ensure that sustainability is at the forefront of plans when implementing green corridors¹.

Why is it important?

The corridors approach has the potential to chart a pathway for a green-energy transition in the maritime sector. The costs and complexity of decarbonising the sector are clear to see. However, the next three years until 2025 offer an opportunity to gain vital operational experience, experiment with alternative fuels and drive down costs. Consequently, we could see the Declaration kickstart the adoption of long-term solutions that will be vital in transforming the maritime sector.

Financing remains a barrier to entry however, so the primary focus must be on attracting investment in zero-emissions infrastructure and technology. With electrification currently not seen as a viable option for long haul, deep-sea voyages, this will both incentivise the development of alternative fuels such as green methanol, liquid hydrogen and ammonia and simultaneously ensure that the benefits to “first movers” outweigh the risks being taken at this early stage in the development cycle. In turn, this will hopefully give further impetus to maritime decarbonisation.

Collaboration and regulation are two key factors

Since November 2021, two green corridors have been set in motion – one between Los Angeles and Shanghai, and one between Antwerp and Montreal. This is encouraging as, whilst the Declaration was an important first step, it would be meaningless without action. As these corridors (plus others) advance, it is critical that relevant stakeholders maintain open lines of communication between one another, sharing best practices, ideas and developments.

The IMO will be crucial in facilitating this. Whilst there is no quick fix to maritime decarbonisation, the transition requires global effort with strong commitment from multiple stakeholders. Pursuing synergies between different parties is critical because if individual players focus solely on their own situation without looking at the global picture, it seems unlikely that the Declaration will develop into the enabling corridor framework required to bring these initiatives to scale beyond 2025.

Mobilising demand from the private sector

With regards to different stakeholders, the private sector will be hugely important. To date, over 200 businesses across the shipping value chain have committed to scaling and commercialising zero-emission vessels and fuels in coming years, demonstrated by Maersk spending over US$30m in three years in an attempt to cut carbon from its operation. Further examples include Amazon, Ikea, Michelin, Patagonia and Unilever, who have all committed to only buy zero carbon freight from 2040 – that is 10 years before the IMO’s current target.