IMO GreenVoyage2050 Programme
International Maritime Organization
(
United Nations / Multilateral body
)
#OceanAction57961
Description
The International Maritime Organization (IMO) is committed to supporting developing countries in reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from shipping, in alignment with the 2023 IMO GHG Strategy, which aims for net-zero GHG emissions from ships by or around 2050. The GreenVoyage2050 Programme, executed by IMO, is a flagship technical cooperation initiative that empowers developing countries to transition towards low- and zero-carbon maritime transport through targeted capacity building, policy reform, public-private partnerships, and innovation. Building on the foundation of Phase I (2020–2023), which supported 12 countries in undertaking emissions assessments, drafting National Action Plans, and piloting emission reduction strategies in ports, Phase II (2024–2030) aims to expand the programme’s reach and deepen impact with funding from the Governments of Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, the Netherlands, and Norway. The voluntary commitment focuses on four core objectives: 1. Support the development and implementation of National Action Plans: GreenVoyage2050 assists countries in conducting national maritime emissions assessments and translating these into actionable National Action Plans. These plans outline strategic policy, regulatory, and institutional measures to reduce GHG emissions from ships while promoting climate-resilient and sustainable maritime development. The programme also supports legislative reforms, including the implementation of MARPOL Annex VI into national law. 2. Accelerate pilot projects through the GreenVoyage2050 Accelerator: The programme supports innovative pilot projects that demonstrate low-carbon solutions in real-world settings. Through the Accelerator, GreenVoyage2050 provides technical support to help identify, refine, and implement projects - such as port emissions reductions, energy efficiency interventions, and clean fuel demonstrations - working closely with government agencies, port authorities, and industry actors. 3. Establish a Grant Facility to support implementable decarbonization initiatives: To bridge the gap between project identification and financing, GreenVoyage2050 is exploring the establishment of a dedicated grant mechanism. This facility will provide catalytic funding to support the design and implementation of concrete, high-impact decarbonization projects in developing countries. It aims to de-risk early-stage interventions, mobilize public and private capital, and scale up successful projects. 4. Promote global collaboration through the Global Industry Alliance (GIA) to Support Low Carbon Shipping: GreenVoyage2050 facilitates a unique public-private partnership platform - the Low Carbon GIA - which brings together maritime industry leaders to identify barriers, exchange knowledge, and co-develop solutions to support decarbonization. The Low Carbon GIA promotes the uptake of innovative technologies and operational best practices and encourages inclusive dialogue across the sector. By strengthening national frameworks, piloting practical solutions, facilitating access to finance, and supporting industry collaboration, GreenVoyage2050 supports a just and equitable transition to low-carbon shipping. The programme contributes directly to SDG 13 (Climate Action), SDG 14 (Life Below Water), and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals), while reinforcing the broader decarbonization and sustainable development goals of participating countries. By reducing emissions from ships and ports, GreenVoyage2050 helps protect ocean health, mitigate acidification, and reduce pollution that threatens marine biodiversity. A cleaner maritime sector contributes to more resilient ocean ecosystems and supports the long-term sustainability of coastal communities. More information on the programme and its activities can be found at: https://greenvoyage2050.imo.org/
International Maritime Organization – Lead Entity (United Nations/ Multilateral body) Government of Denmark (Government) Government of Finland (Government) Government of France (Government) Government of Germany (Government) Government of Netherlands -(Government) Government of Norway (Government)
SDGS & Targets
Goal 13
Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts
13.1
Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries
13.1.1
Number of deaths, missing persons and directly affected persons attributed to disasters per 100,000 population
13.1.2
Number of countries that adopt and implement national disaster risk reduction strategies in line with the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015–2030
13.1.3
Proportion of local governments that adopt and implement local disaster risk reduction strategies in line with national disaster risk reduction strategies
13.2
Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies and planning
13.2.1
Number of countries with nationally determined contributions, long-term strategies, national adaptation plans and adaptation communications, as reported to the secretariat of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
13.2.2
Total greenhouse gas emissions per year
13.3
Improve education, awareness-raising and human and institutional capacity on climate change mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction and early warning
13.3.1
Extent to which (i) global citizenship education and (ii) education for sustainable development are mainstreamed in (a) national education policies; (b) curricula; (c) teacher education; and (d) student assessment
13.a
Implement the commitment undertaken by developed-country parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change to a goal of mobilizing jointly $100 billion annually by 2020 from all sources to address the needs of developing countries in the context of meaningful mitigation actions and transparency on implementation and fully operationalize the Green Climate Fund through its capitalization as soon as possible
13.a.1
Amounts provided and mobilized in United States dollars per year in relation to the continued existing collective mobilization goal of the $100 billion commitment through to 2025
13.b
Promote mechanisms for raising capacity for effective climate change-related planning and management in least developed countries and small island developing States, including focusing on women, youth and local and marginalized communities
13.b.1
Number of least developed countries and small island developing States with nationally determined contributions, long-term strategies, national adaptation plans and adaptation communications, as reported to the secretariat of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
Goal 14
Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development
14.1
By 2025, prevent and significantly reduce marine pollution of all kinds, in particular from land-based activities, including marine debris and nutrient pollution
14.1.1
(a) Index of coastal eutrophication; and (b) plastic debris density
14.2
By 2020, sustainably manage and protect marine and coastal ecosystems to avoid significant adverse impacts, including by strengthening their resilience, and take action for their restoration in order to achieve healthy and productive oceans
14.2.1
Number of countries using ecosystem-based approaches to managing marine areas
14.3
Minimize and address the impacts of ocean acidification, including through enhanced scientific cooperation at all levels
14.3.1
14.4
By 2020, effectively regulate harvesting and end overfishing, illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and destructive fishing practices and implement science-based management plans, in order to restore fish stocks in the shortest time feasible, at least to levels that can produce maximum sustainable yield as determined by their biological characteristics
14.4.1
14.5
By 2020, conserve at least 10 per cent of coastal and marine areas, consistent with national and international law and based on the best available scientific information
14.5.1
14.6
By 2020, prohibit certain forms of fisheries subsidies which contribute to overcapacity and overfishing, eliminate subsidies that contribute to illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and refrain from introducing new such subsidies, recognizing that appropriate and effective special and differential treatment for developing and least developed countries should be an integral part of the World Trade Organization fisheries subsidies negotiation
14.6.1
Degree of implementation of international instruments aiming to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing
14.7
By 2030, increase the economic benefits to Small Island developing States and least developed countries from the sustainable use of marine resources, including through sustainable management of fisheries, aquaculture and tourism
14.7.1
Sustainable fisheries as a proportion of GDP in small island developing States, least developed countries and all countries
14.a
Increase scientific knowledge, develop research capacity and transfer marine technology, taking into account the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission Criteria and Guidelines on the Transfer of Marine Technology, in order to improve ocean health and to enhance the contribution of marine biodiversity to the development of developing countries, in particular small island developing States and least developed countries
14.a.1
14.b
Provide access for small-scale artisanal fishers to marine resources and markets
14.b.1
Degree of application of a legal/regulatory/policy/institutional framework which recognizes and protects access rights for small‐scale fisheries
14.c
Enhance the conservation and sustainable use of oceans and their resources by implementing international law as reflected in United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, which provides the legal framework for the conservation and sustainable use of oceans and their resources, as recalled in paragraph 158 of "The future we want"
14.c.1
Number of countries making progress in ratifying, accepting and implementing through legal, policy and institutional frameworks, ocean-related instruments that implement international law, as reflected in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, for the conservation and sustainable use of the oceans and their resources
Goal 17
Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development
17.1
Strengthen domestic resource mobilization, including through international support to developing countries, to improve domestic capacity for tax and other revenue collection
17.1.1
17.1.2
17.2
Developed countries to implement fully their official development assistance commitments, including the commitment by many developed countries to achieve the target of 0.7 per cent of ODA/GNI to developing countries and 0.15 to 0.20 per cent of ODA/GNI to least developed countries; ODA providers are encouraged to consider setting a target to provide at least 0.20 per cent of ODA/GNI to least developed countries
17.2.1
17.3
Mobilize additional financial resources for developing countries from multiple sources
17.3.1
Additional financial resources mobilized for developing countries from multiple sources
17.3.2
17.4
Assist developing countries in attaining long-term debt sustainability through coordinated policies aimed at fostering debt financing, debt relief and debt restructuring, as appropriate, and address the external debt of highly indebted poor countries to reduce debt distress
17.4.1
17.5
Adopt and implement investment promotion regimes for least developed countries
17.5.1
Number of countries that adopt and implement investment promotion regimes for developing countries, including the least developed countries
17.6
Enhance North-South, South-South and triangular regional and international cooperation on and access to science, technology and innovation and enhance knowledge sharing on mutually agreed terms, including through improved coordination among existing mechanisms, in particular at the United Nations level, and through a global technology facilitation mechanism
17.6.1
Fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 inhabitants, by speed
17.7
Promote the development, transfer, dissemination and diffusion of environmentally sound technologies to developing countries on favourable terms, including on concessional and preferential terms, as mutually agreed
17.7.1
Total amount of funding for developing countries to promote the development, transfer, dissemination and diffusion of environmentally sound technologies
17.8
Fully operationalize the technology bank and science, technology and innovation capacity-building mechanism for least developed countries by 2017 and enhance the use of enabling technology, in particular information and communications technology
17.8.1
17.9
Enhance international support for implementing effective and targeted capacity-building in developing countries to support national plans to implement all the Sustainable Development Goals, including through North-South, South-South and triangular cooperation
17.9.1
Dollar value of financial and technical assistance (including through North-South, South‑South and triangular cooperation) committed to developing countries
17.10
Promote a universal, rules-based, open, non-discriminatory and equitable multilateral trading system under the World Trade Organization, including through the conclusion of negotiations under its Doha Development Agenda
17.10.1
17.11
Significantly increase the exports of developing countries, in particular with a view to doubling the least developed countries’ share of global exports by 2020
17.11.1
Developing countries’ and least developed countries’ share of global exports
17.12
Realize timely implementation of duty-free and quota-free market access on a lasting basis for all least developed countries, consistent with World Trade Organization decisions, including by ensuring that preferential rules of origin applicable to imports from least developed countries are transparent and simple, and contribute to facilitating market access
17.12.1
Weighted average tariffs faced by developing countries, least developed countries and small island developing States
17.13
Enhance global macroeconomic stability, including through policy coordination and policy coherence
17.13.1
17.14
Enhance policy coherence for sustainable development
17.14.1
17.15
Respect each country’s policy space and leadership to establish and implement policies for poverty eradication and sustainable development
17.15.1
17.16
Enhance the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development, complemented by multi-stakeholder partnerships that mobilize and share knowledge, expertise, technology and financial resources, to support the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals in all countries, in particular developing countries
17.16.1
Number of countries reporting progress in multi-stakeholder development effectiveness monitoring frameworks that support the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals
17.17
Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships, building on the experience and resourcing strategies of partnerships
17.17.1
Amount in United States dollars committed to public-private partnerships for infrastructure
17.18
By 2020, enhance capacity-building support to developing countries, including for least developed countries and small island developing States, to increase significantly the availability of high-quality, timely and reliable data disaggregated by income, gender, age, race, ethnicity, migratory status, disability, geographic location and other characteristics relevant in national contexts
17.18.1
Statistical capacity indicators
17.18.2
17.18.3
Number of countries with a national statistical plan that is fully funded and under implementation, by source of funding
17.19
By 2030, build on existing initiatives to develop measurements of progress on sustainable development that complement gross domestic product, and support statistical capacity-building in developing countries
17.19.1
17.19.2
Proportion of countries that (a) have conducted at least one population and housing census in the last 10 years; and (b) have achieved 100 per cent birth registration and 80 per cent death registration
SDG 14 targets covered
| Name | Description |
|---|---|
| 14.3 | Minimize and address the impacts of ocean acidification, including through enhanced scientific cooperation at all levels |
| 17.14 | Enhance policy coherence for sustainable development |
Deliverables & Timeline
Support at least 10 developing countries in developing National Action Plans aligned with the IMO GHG Strategy, including policy recommendations and legislative roadmaps
Identify and develop bankable project proposals for at least 5 innovative pilot projects in ports or on ships that can demonstrate scalable, low- or zero-carbon solutions, such as energy-efficient retrofits, or alternative fuel trials
Operationalization of the GreenVoyage2050 Grant Facility and launch of first funding call to support early-stage decarbonization projects in developing countries
Expansion of the Global Industry Alliance and publication of 2 industry guidance outputs
Resources mobilized
Partnership Progress
Feedback
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Timeline
Entity
Other beneficiaries
Cook Islands
Ocean Basins
Communities of Ocean Action
Website/More information
Countries
Headquarters
Contact Information
Astrid, GreenVoyage2050 Programme Manager