Committee Room, Lisbon, Portugal
29th June 2022 - 29th June 2022 05:30 PM - 06:45 PM
MTCC Africa will be at the UN Ocean Conference – Lisbon, Portugal | 27 June to 1 July 2022.
Introduction
Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions from the maritime shipping industry are expected to increase globally. Developing countries, which greatly rely on international shipping for carriage of their trade, are expected, alongside the global shipping industry, to improve energy efficiency in their shipping sectors for sustainable development.
In the year 2013, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) adopted Resolution (MEPC.229(65)) on the Promotion of Technical Co-operation and Transfer of Technology relating to the Improvement of Energy Efficiency of Ships. This Resolution made it a requirement to provide technical assistance to developing countries in areas of capacity building and demonstrable pilot projects towards improving energy efficiency in the maritime sector with the additional co-benefit of a low-carbon future. It was thus deemed imperative to ensure that there are sufficient capacity-building initiatives in Africa for climate mitigation in the maritime and shipping industry, promoting and strengthening sustainable ocean economies.
The Initial IMO GHG strategy adopted during the IMO Assembly in November 2020, commits and sets the road map toward the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from international shipping. The Strategy included a special focus on capacity building and technical cooperation as crucial components toward the successful implementation of the ambitious outputs. The Strategy also recognised that MTCC Africa is well placed to play a major role in ensuring a “low carbon emissions” future in the maritime shipping industry.
Background on MTCCs/MTCC Africa and IMO CARES
The MTCC Africa is part of the Global MTCC Network (GMN), an initiative initially funded by the European Union (EU) and implemented by the IMO, Department of Partnerships and Projects. The GMN project, formally titled “Capacity Building for Climate Change Mitigation in the Maritime Shipping Industry”, establishes and unites Maritime Technologies Cooperation Centres (MTCCs) from five regions into one global network. These regions include Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, Latin America and the Pacific. MTCC Africa has a unique role to play, being the only of its kind in the continent and the region. This is in regard to climate change mitigation from the effects of maritime transport. MTCC Africa is, therefore, determined to assist developing countries, Small Island Developing States and the Least Developed States in Africa to build momentum towards low/zero emissions and the use of energy-efficient technologies in shipping.
In embracing our mandate, the MTCC Africa takes note that in 2016, developing countries accounted for more than 60% of global outbound/exports loaded, more than 40% of vessel ownership and about 80% of vessel registration. This has a direct effect on the economies of the countries in the African region through revenue generation and employment opportunities. In this regard, MTCC Africa seeks to strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the global partnerships for sustainable development with the target goal being working towards low/zero emissions in shipping in the global arena.
MTCC-Africa has engaged the region in a variety of demonstrable Pilot Projects that promote capacity building for climate change mitigation in the maritime shipping industry. Practical emphasis is placed in the Pilot Projects namely:
To complement the regional engagement of MTCC Africa, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development provides a shared blueprint for prosperity for people and the planet, now and into the future. At its heart are the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which are an urgent call for action in a global partnership.
The IMO CARES (Coordinated Actions to Reduce Emissions from Shipping) is a project in its preparatory stage, with the objective that by the end of 2022, it should result in a proposal for a large-scale, global project, which can accelerate the demonstration of green technologies and their deployment globally in a manner that facilitates blue economic growth in developing regions. This is with an aim to build on existing knowledge, R&D centres, efforts and projects, by linking them up under one framework of cooperation. Among the SDGs, SDG 13 (Climate Action) is central to IMO CARES, but the work of IMO and IMO CARES can also be linked to other SDGs i.e.
Background on the UN Ocean Conference
UN Ocean Conference will focus on SDG14-specific targets and 8 interactive dialogue themes:
In our quest to facilitate regional cooperation and promote maritime decarbonization for blue economic growth, MTCC Africa will host a side event co-lead by the Government of Kenya and the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) in Lisbon, Portugal on 29th June 2022 during the UN Ocean Conference. This side event will take place on the 3rd day of the UN Oceans Conference.
The Objectives of the Side Event
The aim of the event, for which this concept note is developed, is to highlight:
Expected Outcomes
Panelists and moderators
Moderator: Lydia Ngugi, MTCC Africa Head
Key Note Address
Panelists:
Organizers: MTCC Africa will host a side event in collaboration with the Government of Kenya and the International Maritime Organization (IMO) in Lisbon, Portugal on the 29th June 2022 during the UN Ocean Conference at the Altice Arena, Committee Room from 1730Hrs to 1845Hrs.
Program will be availed soon
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