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UAE sets up centre to decarbonise shipping sector

By Pramod Kumar
UAE maritime decarbon centre Wam
Pictured centre: Knut Ørbeck-Nilssen CEO of DNV Maritime and Hessa Al Malek, advisor to the UAE minister for maritime transport affairs

The UAE will set up a maritime decarbonisation centre to set a new global standard for maritime decarbonisation.

The UAE Maritime Decarbonisation Centre will be the first of its kind in the Middle East and North Africa and the fourth globally, UAE state-run Wam news agency reported, citing a statement from the ministry of energy and infrastructure.

It aims to drive research, innovation and cooperation among key players in the maritime industry to accelerate the adoption of sustainable practices, technologies and policies.

It is being developed in collaboration with Norway’s DNV, one of the world’s top ship certifiers.

“This partnership is yet another step to promote innovation in the maritime sector, which has become an international incubator for quality ideas,” said Hessa Al Malek, advisor to the minister for maritime transport affairs in the UAE Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure.

“Digital technologies are the best way to standardise information related to the maritime sector and develop innovative mechanisms to explore business opportunities.”

The decarbonisation centre will conduct joint-industry projects, incubator and accelerator programmes and future talent development initiatives. It will also provide access to funding opportunities and publish research and information.

The initiative aligns with the UAE’s preparations for hosting Cop28, to be held in Dubai at the end of this year.

This month the UAE approved an updated national energy strategy that aims to reduce carbon emissions across the country by 40 percent by 2030.

It wants to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to 182 million metric tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent by 2030 and to raise the share of clean energy in the UAE’s energy mix to 30 percent by 2031.

The Cop28 summit will mark the first global stocktake of emissions since the Paris agreement was signed in 2015 at which countries pledged to keep long-term average temperature increases within 1.5C. 

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