The Clean Energy Marine Hubs (CEM Hubs) initiative has gained further support during a Ministerial event hosted by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) at its 13th Assembly in Abu Dhabi. IRENA welcomes the CEM Hubs initiative, a cross-sectoral public-private platform aimed to accelerate the production, transport and use of low-carbon fuels that will be transported by shipping for the world, implemented by the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS), the International Association of Ports & Harbors (IAPH) and the Clean Energy Ministerial (CEM).
IRENA is the leading global intergovernmental agency for energy transformation and its membership comprises of 168 countries and the European Union. IRENA’s support bridges the shipping industry and ports with the renewable energy sector. IRENA is the principal platform for international cooperation, boasting near-global membership it supports stakeholders in their energy transitions, and brings a wealth of insights, best practices, data analysis and knowledge to the CEM Hubs initiative.
The CEM Hubs Initiative taskforce, with other members of the shipping industry, actively engaged in a Ministerial Roundtable at IRENA’s 13th Assembly and joined in the discussions about renewable energy generation to produce low-carbon fuels, strategies going forward and the role of shipping and ports, to support the wider energy transition.
IRENA will continue to expand its collaboration with ICS and partners in the shipping sector to further strengthen the CEM Hubs initiative and accelerate the use of renewables-based fuels in the shipping and other end-use sectors.
ICS Chairman Emanuele Grimaldi (pictured) commented: “We would like to thank IRENA and Francesco La Camera for inviting us to be part of IRENA’s 13th Assembly and these critical discussions. Renewable energy generation is not only vital for shipping but for the whole world, as it is a key component to scale the availability of low-carbon fuels. We can all no longer work in silos if we are to meet global decarbonisation goals. Governments, ports, renewable energy producers and the shipping industry all have a role to play and the CEM Hubs initiative provides the platform to push this forward. The time for talking is over – it is time for action.
“Going forward the CEM Hubs initiative will continue to strengthen the key link between the energy and maritime industries and to catalyse the global energy transformation and de-risk future investments. With COP28 just around the corner, we look forward to collectively working together with the UAE and IRENA to ensure that shipping plays its full part in the global fight to address climate change.”
