Global Maritime Forum CEO Johannah Christensen (pictured) has accepted an invitation to join the leadership council of the newly formed Industrial Transition Accelerator (ITA), which aims to speed up the shift towards a low-carbon future by bringing together key stakeholders from heavy-hitting sectors such as energy, industry, and transportation.
Unveiled at the COP28 World Climate Action Summit in Dubai, ITA is led by the COP28 Presidency, UN Climate Change, and Bloomberg Philanthropies. Hosted by the Mission Possible Partnership (MPP), ITA’s collaborative approach endeavours to unlock investments and rapidly scale implementation and delivery of projects needed to cut emissions, consistent with credible 2030 1.5°C pathway targets.
Christensen was invited to join the Leadership Council in recognition of the significant role that the maritime industry can play in accelerating decarbonisation efforts. She will contribute perspectives and lessons learned from the Global Maritime Forum’s flagship initiatives, including the Getting to Zero Coalition, an alliance of leading stakeholders with the maritime, fuel, and financial sectors working together to fully decarbonise global seaborne trade by 2050.
Christensen said: “The Global Maritime Forum is honoured to join the Industrial Transition Accelerator. We look forward to supporting this important initiative. The Global Maritime Forum brings its experience and dedicated network of maritime leaders committed to decarbonising one of the hardest to abate sectors, which will be crucial for meeting the Paris Agreement goals. Together, we can accelerate progress, overcome barriers, and achieve a sustainable and decarbonised future for all.”
Christensen joins a Leadership Council that also includes Michael R Bloomberg, the UN Special Envoy on Climate Ambition and Solutions and the founder of Bloomberg LP and Bloomberg Philanthropies; Mary Schapiro, Vice Chair of the Glasgow Financial Alliance for Net Zero (GFANZ); Rodrigo Rollemberg, Secretary of Green Economy, Decarbonisation, and Bioindustry at the Ministry of Development, Industry, Commerce, and Services in Brazil; and Mark Carney, the UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Climate Action and GFANZ Co-Chair.
ITA addresses the urgent need to curb carbon emissions from key heavy industries such as transport and energy production, which collectively account for over a third of greenhouse gas emissions. Without rapid action, carbon emissions from these sectors are projected to increase by more than 30% by 2050. By connecting and elevating existing decarbonisation initiatives within the public and private sectors, ITA strives to unlock investments and deliver emissions reduction projects, ensuring new technologies reach commercial scale.
Christensen added: “The maritime industry needs both private and public funding to reach our first UN-mandated targets in 2030. For example, we need short-term subsidies to establish the first green shipping corridors in order to make them economically viable and build the market for green fuels, and the maritime sector must invest more into new technologies that can reduce current fuel consumption and enable low- or zero-emission fuel use.”
ITA will connect companies worldwide and engage international policymakers and organisations to address cross[1]sectoral challenges. Participating companies commit to setting net-zero emission targets in line with the goals of the Paris Agreement, developing transition plans within two years, and showcasing accelerated decarbonisation efforts. To drive progress, ITA will focus on decarbonisation solutions, stimulating green demand, shaping policies, and creating financing solutions. Improvement will be measured by emissions reductions achieved relative to credible net-zero pathways outlined by the IEA and MPP. Additionally, the ITA will support countries in achieving and raising their Nationally Determined Contributions towards 2030 milestones
