As a leading maritime nation, Cyprus is committed to accelerating the transition of shipping to a low-carbon and climate-resilient industry, the country’s President Nicos Anastasiades stated at the One Ocean Summit.
The Cypriot President was speaking as part of a panel discussion titled “Tackling Climate Change with a Special Focus on Green Shipping” at the summit on 11 February in France.
He said maritime transport has an international character, while climate change knows no borders, adding it is obvious we need to act together to agree on targeted international measures.
“The use of cleaner fuels, the deployment of relevant fuel infrastructure, the electrification of ships, and the use of energy efficiency technologies is the way forward,” he said, adding, “a combination of these, coupled with the industry’s initiatives and commitments, such as the Green Marine label, does have the potential to improve the commercial and environmental sustainability of the sector”.
Anastasiades added the Cyprus government has already devised its long-term strategy for shipping, under the banner “SEA Change 2030,” with the main objectives being the responsible management of the open seas and oceans, as well as the environment.
Cyprus’ initiative to coordinate climate change actions in the Eastern Mediterranean and the Middle East, were raised with Anastasiades pointing out this project aspires to encourage and provide incentives to the countries of the region to prepare their own regional action plans on the basis of their respective specificities.
“We are also extremely pleased that, after several years of systematic deliberations among the Mediterranean states through the Barcelona Convention, a proposal has been recently submitted to the International Maritime Organization for the designation of the Mediterranean Sea as an Emission Control Area for Sulphur Oxides,” said the Cyprus President.
Source: Seatrade Maritime News
