THE G7 ministers of climate, energy and the environment have agreed to strengthen efforts to reach zero-emissions shipping by 2050.

Ministers representing Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the UK and the US met in Japan on 15 and 16 April for the G7 ministers’ meeting.

The ministers noted the approaching 80th session of the IMO Marine Environment Protection Committee and affirmed support for environmental targets.

“We commit to support this target and introducing intermediate targets for 2030 and 2040 for the revised IMO GHG reduction strategy … in line with efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5 [degrees Celsius] above pre-industrial levels,” the ministers wrote in a communiqué.

“We commit to work for the development and adoption of mid-term measures by 2025 to achieve these targets consisting of regulatory signals and incentives to accelerate the transformation of shipping such as the introduction of zero-emission ships in the early stage, while recognising the importance of a just and equitable transition that leaves no one behind.”

The ministers also addressed the development of maritime green corridors.

“As part of other multilateral cooperation, we pledge to support the establishment of at least 14 green shipping corridors involving G7 members by the middle of this decade and pledge to support the establishment of green corridors worldwide in order to promote the reduction of GHG emissions through the uptake of zero- and near-zero emission vessels and fuels and the development of decarbonized ports.”

The ministers addressed a wide range of issues relating to climate, pollution, finance, health and diversity in relevant fields.

The International Chamber of Shipping noted that elsewhere in the communiqué, the group outlined commitments to continue working towards the adoption of the new UN treaty on the Marine Biodiversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction, scheduled to take place on June 19 and 20.

The ICS noted the BBNJ treaty will include the establishment of protected areas to improve conservation of marine biodiversity, as well as greater scrutiny of ocean industries including shipping, fishing and aquaculture.

Ministers also made commitments to further clamp down on illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, including through the UN Food and Agriculture Organization’s Agreement on Port State Measures.

Another pledge targeted marine plastic litter through existing G7 and G20 action plans, as well as IMO’s efforts to reduce abandoned, lost and otherwise discarded fishing gear.