ABSTRACT
Green economy and global commitment to Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emission reduction are interrelated and uncontested policy goals, ranking first in the international agenda. Studies and statistics are regularly published to that end, illustrating that ships’ operation is a significant contributor to the climate change; GHG emissions and sulphur oxides emanating from shipping and port activities are by a great deal considered co-responsible for the global warming which leads amongst others to the rise of the sea levels and to an increase in the frequency of extreme weather events occurrence. The reduction of the GHG emissions from the ships is an overarching aim concerning all the stakeholders involved in the shipping industry. Therefore, IMO addressed an invitation to Member States to encourage the voluntary cooperation between ports and the wider shipping sector in an attempt to contribute to reducing the emissions.
