Building on the administration’s U.S. National Blueprint for Transportation Decarbonization, President Biden announced a U.S. Maritime Decarbonization Action Plan on Dec. 11. The strategies in the Maritime Decarbonization Action Plan provide actions that the federal government and private sector can take to see through to net-zero maritime emissions.
The ultimate goal of the plan is to fully decarbonize the U.S. maritime sector and reach net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.
“The Biden administration stands at a pivotal moment to leave a historic climate and economic legacy by championing the transition to a zero-emission shipping industry,” Antonio Santos, Federal Climate Policy director at Pacific Environment, said.
The Maritime Decarbonization Action Plan “includes all segments of the maritime sector, including ocean-going vessels like bulk carriers and containerships, commercial harbor craft, coastwise vessels and inland waterway vessels like tow and tugs, ferries and offshore supply vessels as well as recreational boats,” according to a press release. The action plan will support “industry, mariners, communities, civil society, sub-national governments, and other interested parties that will decarbonize the maritime sector alongside the U.S. government.”
“Although we believe the plan could have been more ambitious, by fulfilling its maritime decarbonization commitments, the U.S. can lead by example, proving to the world that it is serious about driving a global shift toward cleaner, sustainable shipping while bolstering economic growth and innovation,” Santos said.
Within the U.S. and globally, 90 percent of all goods travel by ship accounting for 3 percent of the total global emissions, which is projected to increase to up to 17 percent by 2050 as the globalized economy continues to increase.
Some major advancements to reduce maritime emissions included Crowley, ABB Marine, California Air Resource Board Member Takvorian and others deployed the first fully electric tugboat in the U.S. at the Port of San Diego in June, and in July, the first hydrogen fuel cell ferry in the U.S. launched at the Port of San Francisco, according to a press release.
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