In their efforts to reduce emissions to net-zero and create resilient maritime hubs, the British High Commission, the Cyprus University of Technology, the Cyprus Energy Agency and Chrysalis LEAP, co-organised an event titled “Decarbonisation of the Cyprus Maritime Sector”. The event, which took place at the Limassol Nautical Club, on September 24th, 2020 was held under the auspices of the Shipping Deputy Ministry of Cyprus. The event is part of the Net-Zero Emissions Resilient Maritime Hubs project, funded by EIT Climate-KIC, EU's main climate innovation initiative. The aim of the Net-Zero, Resilient Maritime Hubs project is the early adoption of a portfolio of innovative strategies and solutions, which will accelerate transformation in the maritime sector in order to meet the International Maritime Organisation Strategy’s (IMO) target of a 50% reduction in shipping GHG emissions (based on 2008 levels) by 2050.
During the morning session of the event, an invite only workshop was held, involving relevant stakeholders to identify the main challenges and barriers in Cyprus and to create a Roadmap for the transition of Cyprus’ Maritime Industry to a low-carbon economy by 2050. The British High Commission supported the effort by sharing UK expertise of the Clean Maritime plan, as part of its efforts to secure net zero commitment by 2050 in the United Nations Climate conference set to take place in Glasgow in 2021. A working lunch, moderated by the Shipping Deputy Minister, Vassilios Demetriades, and the British Deputy High Commissioner to Cyprus, Ian Whitting, followed. The event concluded in the afternoon with a public seminar, where Ms Diane Gilpin of Smart Green Shipping, Ms Olivia Flynn of Department for Transport Maritime and Mr Zacharias Siokouros of Cyprus Marine and Maritime Institute – CMMI, spoke about issues related to the shipping sector both in Cyprus and in Great Britain.
Deputy Minister for Shipping, Vassilis Demetriades, said: "The digital and green transformation of the maritime transport sector is a major challenge which also holds opportunities. Cyprus is ready to work constructively with the shipping community for an environmentally sustainable and efficient national shipping cluster that will contribute to the climate change whilst maintaining its international competitiveness." Deputy High Commissioner Ian Whitting said: Our Prime Minister will call today the international community to make renewed and bolder commitments in the fight against climate change, ahead of COP26, which we will be hosting with our Italian partners in Glasgow in November 2021. This is a fight nobody can win alone and we are happy to see Cyprus joining the cause and will be even happier to see our friends here on island renewing their commitments to limit emissions and invest in green energy and transportation.
