Page 66 - ΝΑΥΤΙΚΑ ΧΡΟΝΙΚΑ - ΜΑΙΟΣ 2023
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INTERNATIONAL WATERS



                                 in 8 to 12 companies with equity and quasi-eq-  Alliance to strengthen their joint climate
                                 uity tickets above €1.5m. The fund has a broad   action, environmental protection efforts, and
                                 sectorial focus with a preference for compa-  cooperation on the clean energy and indus-
                                 nies operating in the value chain of seafood,   trial transition. The agreement was signed in
                                 offshore energy, shipping, ports and blue bio-  Brussels by the President of the European
                                 technology, contributing to decarbonisation,   Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, and Nor-
                                 reducing ocean contamination and conserva-  way’s Prime Minister, Jonas Gahr Støre.
                                 tion of marine ecosystems.             President von der Leyen said: “Norway is a
                                 The EU Commissioner for the Environment,  long-standing and reliable partner to the EU,
                                 Oceans and Fisheries, Virginijus Sinkevičius,  and we share a common vision for building a
                                 stated:                                climate-neutral continent. We want our societ-
                                 ‘’Portugal has a robust blue economy sector   ies and economies to prosper while reducing
                                 that keeps growing fast. Today’s signing of the   emissions, protecting nature, decarbonising
                                 Growth Blue I - the first fund signed under the   our energy systems, and greening our indus-
                                 new InvestEU Blue Economy instrument- means   tries. This Green Alliance makes our bond
                                 we can build our competitive edge of blue and   even stronger and allows us to design a better
                                 sustainable technologies by strengthening   common future.”
                                 financing opportunities for innovative compa-  Both sides reiterate their commitment to
                                 nies. They need our support to succeed and   their 2030 targets of at least 55% green-
                                 grow in the European Union and beyond. This   house gas emission reductions compared to
                                 is our objective with the BlueInvest initiative   1990 and to achieving climate neutrality by
                                 and our partnership with the EIB Group, which   2050 at the latest. They aim to keep global
                                 will give the right impetus in the whole sector’’.  temperature rise within the 1.5C limit under
                                                                        the Paris Agreement while ensuring energy
                                 A NEW PARTNERSHIP AIMS TO              security, environmental protection and human
                                 DECARBONISE PORTS THROUGH SHIP         rights. The EU and Norway will work closely to
                                 ELECTRIFICATION                        ensure the successful implementation of the
                                 Shell Marine and the Hamburg Port Author-  Paris Agreement and the historic biodiversity
                                 ity (HPA) have signed a Memorandum of   agreement reached during the UN Biodiver-
                                 Strategic Partnership (MSP) to explore the   sity Conference COP15.
                                 decarbonisation of ports by focusing on
                                 vessel electrification and the development   GEOPOLITICS
                                 of charging networks.
                                 Port ecosystems are complex, and their
                                 energy transition requires the involvement of
                                 several industry stakeholders, including port  RUSSIA AND VENEZUELA TO
                                 authorities, port operators, terminal man-  ESTABLISH A JOINT SHIPPING
                                 agers, shipowners and ship managers, and  COMPANY
                                 energy supply companies.               Russia and Venezuela’s joint trade plans
                                 The signing of this memorandum demon-  reflect the two countries’ excellent bilateral
                                 strates Shell’s commitment to the zero emis-  relations amid the recent geopolitical realign-
                                 sions goals and is a critical milestone in the   ments.
                                 Port of Hamburg’s journey towards climate   According to Russian media, Moscow and
                                 neutrality.                            Caracas plan to establish a joint Russian-Ven-
                                 In December 2021, the Hamburg City Council   ezuelan dry bulk shipping company to boost
                                 commissioned the HPA to install an electric-  trade between the two heavily-sanctioned
                                 ity supply system in the port’s terminals. The   nations. Hampered by Western sanctions,
                                 HPA has contracted Siemens AG to construct   Russia is trying to find ways to export not only
                                 the relevant infrastructure to deliver green   its energy goods but also agricultural prod-
                                 electricity from the public grid to ships start-  ucts, such as grains and fertilisers. According
                                 ing in 2023.                           to officials from the two countries, the joint
                                                                        shipping company will attempt to circumvent
                                 NEW EU-NORWAY GREEN ALLIANCE TO  such obstacles.
                                 DEEPEN COOPERATION ON CLIMATE,         The new company will create a transport cor-
                                 ENVIRONMENT, ENERGY, AND CLEAN         ridor between the two nations linking Puerto
                                 INDUSTRY                               Cabello in Venezuela with one of the three
                                 The EU and Norway have established a Green   port options currently being examined on the


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