The International Maritime Organization (IMO) and the Government of Norway have launched a new project called ‘GreenVoyage-2050’ to support its initial strategy for reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from shipping.

The international project will initiate and promote global efforts to demonstrate and test technical solutions for reducing emissions.

It is aimed at supporting international shipping to achieve GHG emissions reductions by at least 50% by 2050 compared to 2008.

Set to run initially for two years, GreenVoyage-2050 will involve participation from more than 50 countries in 14 sub-regions across the globe.

By building capacity in developing countries, including small island developing states and least-developed countries, the project will fulfil their commitments to meet climate-change and energy-efficiency goals for global shipping.



Eight countries from Asia, Africa, the Caribbean, Latin America, and the Pacific are initially expected to take pilot roles, to pursue and further undertake actions at a national level.

IMO secretary-general Kitack Lim said that GreenVoyage-2050 was a direct response to the need to support technology transfer and promote green technology uptake aimed at reducing GHG emissions throughout the maritime sector.

The Government of Norway offered $1.1m for the first two years of the project. Subject to approval by the government, additional funding will be provided for 2020 and for the subsequent years of the project.

“This will accelerate the uptake of technology solutions by the industry.”

This will secure the continuation of GreenVoyage-2050 at least until 2023, enabling expansion of the project to include additional beneficiary countries.

Lim said: “I am particularly encouraged by the fact that the GreenVoyage-2050 project is designed with a private-sector partnership component. This will accelerate the uptake of technology solutions by the industry.”

By mobilising additional resources, GreenVoyage-2050 will eventually be scaled-up vertically to accelerate the implementation of the initial IMO GHG strategy.