A hopeful signal from New York climate week in otherwise troubled times

Danish Shipping is taking part in Climate Week NYC. Here, the focus is firmly on the green transition, and there is confidence that IMO’s 176 member states in October will adopt a historic agreement on the regulation needed to ensure climate-neutral shipping.

Climate Week NYC takes place alongside the UN General Assembly in New York.

Much of the coverage of the General Assembly has highlighted how the UN’s ability to cooperate internally is coming under increasing pressure.

By contrast, participating in Climate Week is an encouraging experience. Here, events bring together a wide range of public and private actors across almost every industry, where the conversation on reducing our climate footprint continues with determination, focused on shared solutions that allow for both transformation and competitiveness.

“If multilateralism is under pressure in general, then IMO’s Net-Zero Framework agreement is a clear bright spot. It will be a milestone in shipping’s green transition when the agreement is – hopefully – finally adopted in October. At a time when we hear many stories of setbacks for the green agenda, it has been a real pleasure to experience such strong support for the green transition and the decarbonisation agenda in New York,” said Nina Porst, Director of Climate, Environment and Security at Danish Shipping.

The IMO has not let anyone down

Arsenio Dominguez, IMO Secretary-General

The IMO’s Net-Zero Framework is due for final approval at a meeting in London in week 42.

In a speech at a Danish-organised conference, IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez expressed clear optimism and confidence that the Net-Zero Framework agreement will be adopted.

“It is the the role of the organisation to work with 176 member states, find a consensus and move forward in order to continue to address something that we all agree that is impacting us negatively, as it is climate change and of course the decarbonisation of the shipping sectorThe IMO has not let anyone down,” said IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez to maritime publication ShippingWatch.

“It is encouraging to sense a positive atmosphere around the IMO agreement. But adoption is by no means guaranteed. Every effort must be made in partnership between industry and member states in the run-up to October. I am proud that Denmark and the Danish government, as well as Danish shipping companies, are showing leadership and taking the lead with strong support for global climate regulation of shipping,” says Nina Porst.