Durban — South Africa has made commitments on multilateral platforms to decarbonise its economic sectors that are reliant on fossil fuels for energy.
Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula made the statement in his keynote address on Wednesday at the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) World Maritime Day Parallel Event which is taking place over three days at Durban’s ICC.
Under the theme “New technologies for greener shipping”, it calls for the global community to take action for the decarbonisation of shipping and ports through the use of zero or low carbon technology, fuels and infrastructure.
Mbalula said the goal was to contribute to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions across the globe for sustainable development.
He said this was on the basis that there is just transition which considers the socio-economic factors of the country and her people.
“We believe that the abundance of renewable energy can accelerate the development of greener technologies and alternative fuels to meet the demand of supplying bunkers to ships at our ports.
“To meet these demands, South Africa will have to accelerate her investments on research and innovation for the development of alternative fuels, technology and infrastructure,” said Mbalula.
He said the department’s private enterprises, research institutions and ports were hard at work in a quest to develop low or zero carbon fuels, like green hydrogen and ammonia, and green technologies for ships and port infrastructure.
“The big question we must answer is: ‘How do we get to the future that is sustainable, which facilitates global seaborne trade from all corners of the globe?” he said.
“Shipping contributes less than 3% of global emissions. However, if there are no mitigation measures taken, greenhouse gas emissions from ships are projected to increase to 250% by 2050 because of future demand for cargo,” he said.
Mbalula said that more than half of the country was surrounded by ocean and that people were dependent on them for imports and exports.
He further stated that the country occupied a strategic shipping route round the southern tip of Africa, adding that the cruise season would begin next month until the end of March next year.
“In re-affirming our place among the maritime nations of the world, we are resolute in our efforts to grow a seafaring nation where young men and women are able to take advantage of our vast maritime resources for their livelihoods and careers.
“Seafaring is an international occupation and seafarers produced by South Africa are able to work in international shipping and are highly sought after. Producing seafarers for international employment will contribute to the reduction of youth unemployment,” Mbalula said.
He added that coastal shipping occupied the centre stage of development efforts, not only to aggressively enhance the oceans’ economy but also create jobs.
That, he said, would be realised by creating a captive market for South Africans, where regulation would determine what categories of cargo should only be moved by sea.
He commended the IMO for its commitment to fight climate change and its threats by adopting the Initial Strategy on the Reduction of Greenhouse Gas Emission from International Ships.
“I must also extend my appreciation and applaud stakeholders, including the oil and bunker industry, manufacturers, academia, and the shipping industry in general, for all your efforts and initiatives aimed at using research and innovation for the development of greener technologies as the pathway to the decarbonisation of this important industry,” he said.
Daily News