Sharm El Sheikh (November 7, 2022) – Today at COP27, the United States and Norway launched a global Green Shipping Challenge, creating a platform for more than two dozen commitments to accelerate ship decarbonization and keep the 1.5 degree climate goal alive. Pacific Environment commends the U.S. and Norway, specifically U.S. Presidential Envoy for Climate Secretary Kerry and Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre, for elevating ship decarbonization as a major priority for the COP27 agenda.

Statement from Madeline Rose, Climate Campaign Director, Pacific Environment: 

“Pacific Environment thanks the Biden administration, specifically Secretary Kerry and his Green Shipping Team, and the government of Norway, specifically Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre and his shipping team, for elevating global shipping decarbonization as a priority for COP27. As the Secretary said himself, ‘at Paris, no one talked about shipping.’ Pacific Environment is proud of the momentum we see today in building a clean, just, healthy shipping future – and yet, we must all go faster.”

About Ocean Shipping

If ocean shipping were a country, it would be the sixth largest polluter of climate pollution in the world. Today, 50,000 ships hauling 90% of the world’s cargo emit as much carbon dioxide as the entire country of Germany. Air pollution from ships contributes to 260,000 premature deaths and 14 million cases of childhood asthma each year globally. By joining together and taking bold climate and public health actions, ports can play a leadership role in catalyzing the zero-emission ocean shipping transition this decade – and beyond.

About Pacific Environment 

Pacific Environment is a global environmental organization that protects communities and wildlife of the Pacific Rim. We support community leaders to fight climate change, protect the oceans, build just societies, and move away from fossil fuels toward a green economy.