Government of Norway

11/19/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 11/19/2024 12:07

Norway and Brazil to cooperate on climate-friendly shipping

Norway and Brazil have agreed to work together to promote climate-friendly shipping. The aim is to establish fixed routes between Brazil and Europe for ships employing technology and fuel with lower greenhouse gas emissions.

'Norway has a proud history as a shipping nation, and we aim to be a leader in green shipping. The ocean is what binds together trade between Brazil and Norway. Together, our countries have the expertise and technology needed to carry out a cutting-edge project that can showcase the potential of green shipping to the world at large. The agreement will also open up opportunities for Norwegian shipyards and create jobs along our entire coast,' said Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre.

The collaborative effort between Norway and Brazil was announced during the G20 Summit in Rio de Janeiro, where Prime Minister Støre is participating.

At the climate summit in Glasgow (COP26) in 2021, Norway and a number of other countries agreed to establish corridors for climate-friendly shipping. The corridors are routes between two or more ports where ships can operate with zero or near-zero greenhouse gas emissions. The shipping industry accounts for approximately 3 % of man-made greenhouse gas emissions.

Brazil and Norway are now working to establish a transatlantic corridor as one of these routes. The two countries have launched a pilot project with key partners in the shipping industry on both sides of the Atlantic in order to identify suitable routes and ports and develop zero-emissions fuels.

'An important step was taken last year, when the International Maritime Organization (IMO) adopted a strategy which includes an ambition to reach net-zero greenhouse gas emissions from international shipping by 2050. Norway and Brazil plan to show that this is also possible for ships sailing in long-distance transport. It is a challenging task, but we are very pleased to have the chance to work together with Brazil on this project,' said Minister of Climate and Environment Tore O. Sandvik.

During the next year, specific transatlantic shipping routes for climate-friendly shipping will be reviewed. Norway and Brazil intend to present one or more options at the climate summit (COP30) in Brazil in 2025.

  • The collaborative effort between Norway and Brazil is part of the follow-up to the Clydebank Declaration signed at the climate summit in Glasgow (COP29) in 2021.
  • Norway was one of the countries that signed the declaration. The aim is to establish at least six international green shipping corridors by the middle of this decade.
  • On the Norwegian side, the Ministry of Climate and Environment is leading the efforts in cooperation with the Research Council of Norway, DNV, the Federation of Norwegian Industries, the Norwegian Shipowners' Association and the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and others.
  • On the Brazilian side, the Brazilian Ministry of Ports and Airports (MPor) is leading the efforts.