Multiple green shipping corridor initiatives on the rise

Since member states reached an agreement at the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) headquarters in London to accelerate shipping’s environmental goals, the proliferation of what are known as “green corridors” worldwide has surged.

The latest data from the classification society DNV indicates that the number of initiatives promoting green shipping corridors doubled last year and has now reached 57 as of February this year. Major commitments to establishing dedicated green fuel shipping routes have been observed in locations such as Los Angeles, Singapore, Antwerp, Rotterdam, the Baltic Sea, and southern Japan.

According to C40, a green shipping corridor entails a shipping route where zero-carbon emissions ships and other emissions reduction programs are utilized. These reductions are monitored and facilitated through public and private actions and policies. C40 is an international network of nearly 100 mayors dedicated to addressing the climate crisis.

The concept of green shipping corridors gained significant attention at the COP26 summit in Glasgow in 2021, where 19 countries endorsed the inaugural framework for establishing zero-emission ocean shipping corridors. This endorsement was formalized with the signing of the Clydebank Declaration for clean shipping corridors.

Steven Jones, CEO of the Sustainable Shipping Initiative (SSI), welcomed the expansion of agreements between green port cities, emphasizing the need to translate intentions into tangible outcomes. He said that to realize the potential, it’s crucial to seize regional transition opportunities such as clean energy access, job creation, workforce development, and environmental conservation. These opportunities can fully release the transformative power of green corridors as drivers of positive change.

The SSI is a member-driven organization striving to drive change across the maritime ecosystem.