The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism has proposed to the IMO = International Maritime Organization a goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to virtually zero by 2050, regarding measures against global warming of vessels involved in international shipping, such as cargo imports and exports. Hardened.


It is expected to be proposed jointly with the United States and other countries, and technological development to make it effective will be an issue.

Each country, such as Japan, has set a goal of reducing domestic greenhouse gas emissions to virtually zero by 2050. IMO = International Maritime Organization is to work on it.



The strategy adopted by the IMO three years ago states that greenhouse gas emissions will be cut in half by 2050 compared to 2008, but the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism said at an IMO committee meeting in November. We have established a policy of proposing a goal of virtually zero by 2050.



Regarding international shipping, in April, the United States also proposed a goal of virtually zero, and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism's proposal will be made jointly with the United States and other countries.



On the other hand, with regard to global warming countermeasures for ships, the technology that can achieve virtually zero in 2050 has not yet been established worldwide, and even if the target is adopted, it may become a mere ghost.



The government plans to provide 35 billion yen in technical development support over a 10-year period, and is rushing to develop engines using ammonia and hydrogen that do not emit carbon dioxide.

Current status of decarbonization of international shipping

According to the IEA (International Energy Agency), carbon dioxide emissions from international shipping as of 2018 were about 700 million tons, accounting for 2.1% of the world total, which is equivalent to that of Germany alone.



As countries aim to reduce domestic greenhouse gases, there are growing calls for further reductions in international shipping, and in April the United States announced that it should aim for decarbonization by 2050, and 9 The United Kingdom made a similar statement in May.



At the UN Conference on Sustainable Transport held in mid-October, UN Secretary-General António Guterres called on countries to take measures against the decarbonization of shipping.



Professor Masamichi Hasebe of Kobe University Graduate School, who is familiar with shipping measures against global warming, said, "The strong awareness that we must work on measures against global warming has become a major trend that cannot be overturned, especially in Western countries. Regarding international shipping, there is a trend that special treatment should be stopped, and it is a big point that IMO can respond promptly based on social demands. "



On top of that, regarding the role of Japan, "Japan has the world's leading shipping companies and shipbuilding companies, and Japan has led the discussion in the last few years at IMO. The goal of decarbonization in 2050 It is necessary to cooperate with European countries and take leadership toward the realization of the formulation. "

Shipping industry and countries promote technological development

Japan's major shipping companies have also set a goal of global warming countermeasures by 2050, with NYK Line and Mitsui O.S.K. Lines aiming to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to virtually zero, and Kawasaki Kisen to halve greenhouse gas emissions in 2008. We are proceeding with initiatives such as development.



In May, the government also announced a plan to accelerate the technological development of "next-generation vessels" such as ammonia-fueled vessels that do not emit carbon dioxide and promote their practical application in order to lead the global warming countermeasures. ..



Among them, "next-generation vessels" include ▽ ammonia fuel vessels, ▽ hydrogen fuel vessels, and ▽ LNG fuel vessels that suppress methane emissions, and each of them will promote the development and demonstration of engines and fuel supply systems. increase.



Of these, the ▽ ammonia fueled vessel is targeted for commercial operation as early as possible by 2028, and the ▽ hydrogen fueled vessel is targeted for completion of demonstration operation by 2030.