Conception phase begins in close cooperation with the maritime sector.
In the Federal Transport Ministry in Berlin today, the starting signal for the development of the national action plan for climate-friendly shipping was given. As a federal government initiative, the action plan is being developed under the leadership of the Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport (BMDV) and the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK). Representatives of the shipping industry, maritime industry and science, energy suppliers, industry and environmental associations, the finance sector as well as public administration on both federal and state levels are all closely involved in developing the strategy.
Federal Minister for Digital and Transport, Dr. Volker Wissing: “In view of available technologies and energy sources, making shipping climate-neutral is an enormous challenge. It is also however, a great opportunity in terms of industrial policy that is worth taking. I am convinced that together with the experts we will present a strategic roadmap for Germany as a shipping location. This will help us to achieve our ambitious climate protection targets for shipping on national, European and international levels and at the same time, boost the innovative and value-added power of the maritime industry.”
Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate Action, Dr. Robert Habeck, said: “The shipbuilding and supply industry is the success model of the German economy: it is, in many areas, at the cutting edge of technology, consists mainly of medium-sized companies and is export-oriented. On the path to climate-friendly shipping of the future, the maritime industry plays a key role – for climate-friendly drives and fuels and for the energy transition in general, particularly when it comes to offshore wind power. We want to strengthen the competitiveness of the maritime industry and show that climate protection and industry, transformation and competitiveness go hand in hand.”
Managing Director and Spokesperson of NOW GmbH, Kurt-Christoph von Knobelsdorff, said: “The national action plan for climate-friendly shipping gives the maritime sector in Germany a coordinated roadmap for reducing emissions. Broad stakeholder participation will ensure that it is accepted in the sector. With its interface expertise, NOW GmbH will actively support coordination between the maritime industry, science and authorities as well as federal and state governments.”
At the launch event, areas of action were presented, on the basis of which the contents of the action plan will be developed within several interdisciplinary in-person and online dialogue formats:
- Alternative drive and energy systems
- Supply with climate-friendly energy sources
- Fleet modernisation
- Maritime industrial policy
- Green shipping corridors
The results will be presented at the upcoming National Maritime Conference. The strategy development process for the national action plan for climate-friendly shipping is coordinated through the BMDV and the BMWK, along with NOW GmbH organisational and advisory support.
About NOW GmbH
Since 2008, NOW GmbH has been supporting the federal government’s targets in its climate and industrial policy. The tasks of the federally-owned company include developing, monitoring and evaluating funding programmes about climate-neutral mobility and energy supply. NOW GmbH experts supervise projects in the areas of hydrogen, fuel cells, battery and renewable fuels. They reimagine mobility and fuels for cars, buses, trains, commercial vehicles, ships and airplanes, and support the establishment and further development of charging infrastructure and hydrogen refuelling stations for cars and trucks. More information on NOW can be found here.
Photo: Franz Josef, Berlin