Belize Maritime Stakeholders Collaborate on National Action Plan to Advance Green Shipping and Port Sustainability
IMO’s GreenVoyage2050 programme, along with the Belize Port Authority, has jointly organized a National Action Plan (NAP) workshop titled ‘Advancing Green Shipping and Port Sustainability: A Maritime Stakeholder Dialogue in Belize’. This workshop is part of the technical cooperation support offered by GreenVoyage2050 to support the implementation of IMO’s 2023 GHG Strategy.
Held in the margins of the Caribbean Regional Workshop on the IMO 2023 GHG Strategy to reduce shipping emissions, the workshop brought together diverse participants from the Belizean ports, various government ministries, private shipping companies as well as the shipping registry. Stakeholders brainstormed possible actions and pilot projects to reduce GHG emissions from ships and in ports, considered the specific needs of Belize’s maritime sector, shared best practices on the potential impacts of the proposed policy actions, and how to build capacity for the effective implementation of Belize’s NAP.
A NAP outlines a country’s vision and strategies to reduce GHG emissions from ships. These plans can include various measures, such as enhancing institutional and legislative frameworks, promoting energy efficiency, researching and adopting low-carbon and zero-carbon fuels, accelerating port emission reduction activities, and developing infrastructure for green shipping. The IMO’s Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) adopted the 2023 GHG Strategy (resolution MEPC.377(80)), which includes ambitious goals, including achieving net-zero GHG emissions by or around, i.e. close to, 2050 and ensuring the uptake of zero or near-zero GHG emission technologies, fuels and/or energy sources to represent at least 5%, striving for 10%, of the energy used by international shipping by 2030.
Mr. Kaylon Young, Acting Ports Commissioner of the Belize Port Authority, emphasized the importance of this collaborative effort: “This workshop marks a major step forward for Belize as we bring together key stakeholders to forge a path towards reducing maritime emissions. By uniting government officials, industry leaders, and community representatives, we are not just creating a National Action Plan – we are laying the foundation for a greener future. This collective effort ensures that Belize’s commitment to reducing GHG emissions remains strong, positioning us as a leader in the Caribbean maritime sector.”
This workshop reflects the commitment of both, the IMO and the Belize Port Authority to stakeholder cooperation and shared learning, essential for addressing the global challenge of climate change.
The IMO has recently published an open call for expressions of interest from developing countries for support to develop NAPs to reduce GHG emissions from ships. This technical support, provided through the GreenVoyage2050 programme, offers a unique opportunity for eligible developing countries to develop tailored NAPs that address their specific maritime challenges. Read more here.
For more information, please visit the GreenVoyage2050 website or contact Ms. Astrid Dispert at greenvoyage2050@imo.org.
National Action Plans
IMO resolution MEPC.367(79), adopted in 2022, encourages Member States to develop and submit voluntary NAPs outlining respective policies and actions to address GHG emissions from ships. A NAP outlines a country’s strategies and actions to reduce ship GHG emissions. NAPs submitted to IMO can be accessed at https://www.imo.org/en/OurWork/Environment/Pages/RELEVANT-NATIONAL-ACTION-PLANS-AND-STRATEGIES.aspx.
GreenVoyage2050
GreenVoyage2050 is a major technical cooperation programme initiated by the IMO to assist developing countries in reducing GHG emissions from shipping, aligning with the 2023 IMO GHG Strategy. Phase I of GreenVoyage2050 (2020-2023) supported partnering countries in developing policy frameworks and pilot projects to reduce GHG emissions from ships. Phase II (2024-2030) will continue and expand this support, leveraging substantial funding from donors including Finland, France, Germany, the Netherlands, and Norway.
