Decarbonising maritime transport will be challenging and very, very expensive, but it is indispensable. He pointed this out Rebeca Grynspan, Secretary-General of the Conference of the Nations United Nations on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), intervening with a video message to COP28, the United Nations conference on climate that ended yesterday in Dubai. Stressing that the Shipping is the lifeblood of the global economy handling more than 80% of the volume of trade Grynspan recalled that, however, this crucial sector also contributes to almost 3% of global greenhouse gases and that, with the growth of seaborne trade, only in the In the last ten years, emissions have increased by 20%, "a A path that we simply cannot afford to keep going."

According to the Secretary-General of UNCTAD, therefore, 'it is bold, global action is needed to decarbonise the maritime transport' and it is essential to 'ensure that that decarbonisation is effective, fair and equitable." "We know," Grynspan added, "that decarbonization It won't be cheap. Our "Review of Maritime Transport 2023," he recalled, referring to the latest analysis UNCTAD Maritime Transport Report, published in September ( of 27 September 2023) - resumes previous estimates that Up to $28 billion per year will be needed to decarbonise ships by 2050, and a staggering 90 billions of dollars a year will be needed for development zero-carbon fuel infrastructure within the same deadline. Put simply, if the efforts of decarbonisation is not accompanied by healthy economic growth. multilateral regulation and technological innovation, there is the risk that in the short term it will leave behind its own those countries that it can help the most in the long term. To better align with the emission reduction targets of greenhouse gases set by the IMO, the shipping sector also needs certainty and clear economic incentives to decarbonize."

Grynspan dwelt on the difficulties facing Currently, they are facing the shipping companies: shipowners, he explained, are faced with a dilemma: renewing the fleet now, without clarity about the rules, fuels and future technologies, or wait until the and alternative fuel regulations will be more Clear. The good news, he stressed, is that, Although this transition is in its infancy, with 99% of the global fleet that is still dependent on conventional fuels, there is Hope: 21% of new ships ordered are designed to alternative fuels, and this lays the foundations for a new era. This highlights the importance of collaboration at the system, rapid regulatory interventions and substantial investments in green technologies and fleets to ensure that This transition works. This, the secretary added UNCTAD - underlines a fundamental truth: Shipping cannot decarbonise itself. It is action involving the entire ecosystem is needed, calling for maritime transport and the energy sector'.

In order to facilitate the path to decarbonisation of shipping, Grynspan urged the definition of "a universal regulatory framework applicable to all ships, regardless of their flag or property', An appeal that - although not mentioning it, except in the final acknowledgments - Grynspan has evidently addressed to its sister company International Maritime Organization (IMO), the United Nations agency in charge of defining norms and standards for maritime transport international.

'Economic incentives, such as taxes or contributions emissions, he continued, can accelerate this transition to making alternative fuels more and the funds can be used for investments and to ensure that transport costs do not hurt economies more vulnerable'.

In conclusion, the Secretary-General of UNCTAD noted that "The cost of inaction is very high. We can't Enjoy the luxury of wasting time. The maritime industry is At a crossroads, we cannot afford to hesitate."