121 Partners from across the Mediterranean shipping sector will work with the World Ocean Council to tackle environmental issues green shipping technologies that can set new environmental practices and standards globally. WOC chose to place its headquarters in Barcelona in 2022 because of the strong synergies for the blue economy. With our partners, we want to build on that alignment for the CoE on Green Shipping. Barcelona is a pivotal city and port in the Mediterranean and a beacon for blue economy and ‘blue tech’ players. It also has a well-established maritime, port, cruise, pleasure boat and watersports infrastructure and the strong synergy between the port, city authorities and other key maritime stakeholders makes it an ideal location to launch the centre across the Mediterranean. The CoE will bring together diverse maritime and marine sectors. What are the main benefits of this multisectoral approach? Adopting this approach enables the CoE to effectively address the complex sustainability and resilience challenges within the broader maritime industry. By harnessing the collective expertise and resources from different sectors, the CoE can develop innovative, integrated solutions that significantly enhance both scalability and impact. For example, a project that combines advanced fuel technologies with efficient port waste management practices can drastically reduce the environmental footprint of shipping operations. Cities and ports that work closely with innovators can create co-benefits that extend from coastal protection to biodiversity to fisheries. This collaborative framework advances the maritime arenas towards more sustainable practices and also promotes broader societal and marine benefits. These include substantial reductions in environmental impacts, stimulation of economic growth through the development and adoption of green technologies, and increased community resilience to the effects of climate change. Such an approach demonstrates a successful model for cross-industry collaboration, setting a standard for future environmental sustainability initiatives. Can you give us an overview of the key maritime issues you will be targeting? Beyond decarbonisation, the CoE aims to tackle a comprehensive range of environmental challenges, including minimising water and noise pollution, and enhancing energy efficiency across the maritime sector as well as biodiversity and habitat regeneration. However, our focus extends beyond environmental issues. We’re also committed to improving safety standards, enhancing maritime security, boosting operational efficiency and improving coastal resilience. We also have a broader footprint that includes ‘up river’ to facilitate better outcomes for contributing (fresh) waterways, inland shipping and the connectivity between countries, municipalities, ports and corporations and innovators that serve them. Our goal is to develop holistic, sustainable practices that encompass these areas and can serve Photo: iStock/gece33
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