CEM Hubs already has backing of the UAE, Canada, Norway, Uruguay and Panama, with support from the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA)
Momentum for the Clean Energy Marine Hubs (CEM Hubs) continues to grow with the Global Centre for Maritime Decarbonisation (GCMD) joining the initiative which aims to advance the production, transport and use of low-carbon fuels by shipping for the entire world to access and use. This collaboration further strengthens the Coalition Partnership between GCMD and the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS), which they signed in April 2022.
Proposed by ICS and the International Association of Ports & Harbors (IAPH), the CEM Hubs initiative is a first-of-its-kind, cross-sectoral public-private platform jointly led by an industry task force of CEOs and energy ministers under the banner of Clean Energy Ministerial (CEM). First presented in September 2022 at the Clean Energy Ministerial in Pittsburgh, the initiative is backed by five countries, the UAE, Canada, Norway, Uruguay and Panama, and is supported by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) in coordination with key global platforms that are working towards increasing the deployment of clean fuels around the world.
GCMD joins the CEM Hubs initiative ahead of its formal launch at the 14th Clean Energy Ministerial to be held in Goa in July 2023. GCMD’s mission to help accelerate the maritime industry’s decarbonisation efforts through its pilots will contribute valuable expertise, data and insights to inform the initiative.
Professor Lynn Loo, CEO of the Global Centre for Maritime Decarbonisation, said:
“GCMD has been in discussion with ICS since earlier this year on how we can contribute towards the CEM Hubs initiative. I am proud to have been part of the ICS-led delegation to the IRENA Assembly in January, voicing the role shipping can play to facilitate the greater energy transition. For shipping to access green fuels and to support the global energy transition, infrastructure needs to be established at ports and demand aggregated with other sectors. We hope to contribute to this effort by helping to identify and address technical and operational gaps in the green fuels supply chain, and by sharing learnings from our pilots with this community.”
Esben Poulsson, Chair of the Clean Energy Marine Hubs Task Force, said:
“We would like to thank the GCMD and Lynn Loo for the support they are respectively providing of the CEM Hubs initiative. With the formal launch of the initiative just a few short weeks away in July, momentum continues to grow for the CEM Hubs and we are delighted that we have the GCMD joining us in time for this significant moment.
“The goals and missions of the GCMD align with those of the CEM Hubs initiative and add great value to the partnership that is being developed. I am confident that together we are in an even stronger position to move forwards, catalyse the global energy transformation and help to de-risk future investments not just for shipping but the entire world.”
Prasoon Agarwal, Acting Head of Secretariat, Clean Energy Ministerial, said:
“We are very much looking forward to the launch of the Clean Energy Marine Hubs initiative this July, during the 14th Clean Energy Ministerial meeting in Goa, India. Since the initial announcement last year, we have received strong support from across the global clean energy community for this global initiative, which aims to engage and enable the maritime sector to accelerate global clean energy transition. As the initiative continues to grow its global visibility and partnerships, we welcome the Global Centre for Maritime Decarbonisation to the initiative ahead of its launch and hopeful to see a strong presence of global maritime community, engaging with the energy community in Goa next month.”
About CEM
The Clean Energy Ministerial (CEM) is a high-level global forum to promote policies and programmes that advance clean energy technology, to share lessons learned and best practices, and to encourage the transition to a global clean energy economy. Initiatives are based on areas of common interest among participating governments and other stakeholders. The CEM brings together a community of the world’s largest and leading countries, companies and international experts to achieve one mission –accelerate clean energy transitions - www.cleanenergyministerial.org
About CEM Hubs
The Clean Energy Marine Hubs initiative aims to de-risk and accelerate the production of low-carbon fuels at scale, for shipping to transport and use. Shipping will be a key enabler to transport these fuels for the world, supporting the wider energy transition to the world. The initiative was proposed by the International Chamber of Shipping and the International Association of Ports & Harbors under the banner of Clean Energy Ministerial (CEM). It is a is a first-of-its-kind, cross-sectoral public-private platform jointly led by an industry task force of CEOs and energy ministers.
About GCMD
The Global Centre for Maritime Decarbonisation (GCMD) was set up on 1 August 2021 as a non-profit organisation. Our strategic partners include the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA), BHP, BW Group, Eastern Pacific Shipping, Foundation Det Norske Veritas, Ocean Network Express, Seatrium, bp and Hapag-Lloyd. Beyond the strategic partners, GCMD has brought onboard 14 partners that engage at the centre level, in addition to more than 80 partners that engage at the project level.
Strategically located in Singapore, the world’s largest bunkering hub and second largest container port, GCMD aims to help the industry eliminate GHG emissions by shaping standards for future fuels, piloting low-carbon solutions in an end-to-end manner under real-world operations conditions, financing first-of-a-kind projects, and fostering collaboration across sectors. For more information, please visit www.gcformd.org.
About IAPH
Founded in 1955, the International Association of Ports and Harbors (IAPH) has developed into a global alliance of 175 port authorities as well as 150 port-related businesses. Comprised of 87 different nationalities across the world’s continents, member ports handle approximately one third of the world’s sea-borne trade and well over 60% of the world container traffic. IAPH leads global port industry initiatives on decarbonization and energy transition, risk and resilience management, and accelerating digitalization in the maritime transport chain. Its World Ports Sustainability Program has grown into the reference database of best practices of ports applying the UN Sustainable Development Goals and integrating them into their businesses – www.iaphworldports.org.
About ICS
The International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) is the principal international trade association for merchant shipowners and operators, representing all sectors and trades and over 80% of the world merchant fleet - www.ics-shipping.org.