New Zealand Associate Transport Minister Matt Doocey hosted an event supporting the launch of a feasibility study into setting up a low-emissions shipping corridor between Tauranga and Zeebrugge in Belgium via the Panama Canal. The study was commissioned by Zespri and one of its key shipping partners, ANL/CMA CGM.
Zespri Executive Officer Sustainability Rachel Depree says shipping plays a critical part in New Zealand's export-driven economy, carrying 99 percent of the country's trade by volume and around 80 percent by value.
"Low-emissions shipping is a critical part of carbon reduction for exporters and also underpins our collective ability to achieve the government's goal of doubling export value over the next 10 years. Collectively, we are already facing rising costs as carbon is priced into the economy and our markets and customers are starting to demand targets and plans to lower emissions over time."
ANL & CMA CGM Oceania Managing Director Shane Walden outlined the efforts of the CMA CGM Group in decarbonising transport and logistics. "The CMA CGM Group is a global player in sea, land, air and logistics solutions, and places the preservation of the environment at the heart of its strategy, with a commitment to reach Net Zero Carbon by 2050 across all its activities. In shipping, CMA CGM is focused on reducing energy consumption as well as using sustainable low-carbon energies where possible in order to accelerate the energy transition of the sector, including that of key customers such as Zespri.
"New Zealand is an important country for the CMA CGM Group. The country has a geographic advantage that, with support, could allow New Zealand to play a role as a maritime energy hub for the South Pacific. We embarked upon this project with Zespri and EY as it is imperative that we jointly address climate challenges in the sector to support New Zealand's maritime trade."
Depree says shipping emissions are one of the key challenges to decarbonising the kiwifruit industry and meeting Zespri's climate commitments. "While kiwifruit is a low-carbon product, shipping emissions make up a larger portion of the product's overall carbon footprint at 43 percent - and that's why action is a priority. Like many exporters, Zespri can't directly reduce shipping emissions ourselves so we're working with our shipping and distribution partners to improve efficiency and find opportunities to pilot low-emissions fuels solutions as we work towards our ambition of being carbon positive by 2035."
What did the report by EY find?
The report outlines the complexity of decarbonising shipping and what's needed from all the players across the value chain from exporters to shipping companies, fuel companies, ports and governments, and confirms how varied and significant the change required is.
For more information:
Anna Cross
Zespri
Tel: +64 27 316 7777
Email: [email protected]