Pacific Environment, Korea Maritime Institute ink MoU for zero-emission maritime target

Pacific Environment (PE) and the Korea Maritime Institute (KMI) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to accelerate zero-emission shipping and ports.

The MoU signing ceremony occurred during the 2023 World ESG Forum in Jeju, Republic of Korea, titled “Human Dignity through ESG.”

The objective is to create a mechanism and framework for cooperation between KMI and PE to accelerate zero-emission shipping and ports in the Republic of Korea, across Asia, and globally, by defining the strategic opportunities for exchange between the parties.

The MoU will also identify the roles and responsibilities in the cooperation activities of the parties in order to ensure mutual understanding and mutual benefits.

Other key areas of collaboration include support from PE and KMI to accelerate Korea’s policies to move towards 100 per cent renewable energy, provide electric power, and move towards zero-emission fuels.

Additionally, the MoU calls for the design and implementation of policies for commercial harbour craft and international vessels, ships at berth and other climate policy issues – such as ending ocean plastic pollution and fossil fuel pollution, among others.

“We are excited to enter into this multi-year partnership with the Korea Maritime Institute, one of the world’s leading maritime research institutions, to accelerate climate action and the realization of zero-emission shipping and zero-emission ports,” said Madeline Rose, Interim Deputy Executive Director, PE.

In March, the governments of California and Japan announced a new partnership aimed at cutting emissions at seaports and establishing green shipping corridors.

More recently, the G7 Ministers for Climate, Energy, and Environment called on the shipping sector to reach zero emissions by 2050 during talks held in the northern Japanese city, Sapporo.