IAPH is among governments and non-state global climate actors currently gathered in Baku, Azerbaijan for the 29th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP 29). At the event, running 11-22 November, participants face the steep challenge of keeping the world on track to limit global temperature rise to 1.5°C by the end of this century. On Tuesday 12 November, IAPH technical director Antonis Michail joined the side event on ‘Green Ports for a Sustainable Blue Economy’ organised by Greece. Alongside colleagues from the Greek Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Environment and Energy, the Lloyd’s Register Maritime Decarbonization Hub, and the Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller Center for Zero Carbon Shipping, Antonis reflected on the key technical and political challenges on the pathway of decarbonizing maritime transport. On Wednesday 13 November, IAPH, together with the Port of Baku and the Climate Champions team co-organized a side event on ‘Ports as a Gateway for Decarbonization & Resilience’ hosted by Azerbaijan. IMO secretary-general Arsenio Dominguez opened the event with a keynote address highlighting his organisation’s commitment to deliver a clear and ambitious package of mid-term measures, including a global carbon-pricing mechanism at MEPC 83 in Spring 2025, and reflected on the role of ports in facilitating the decarbonization of shipping. Antonis followed with an overview of the IAPH decarbonization toolkit, addressing both mitigation efforts in line with the IMO Ports Resolution, and tackling the resilience, climate adaptation challenge. In addition, he highlighted the key findings of the IAPH-commissioned study on the investment needs in developing countries’ port infrastructure for decarbonization and adaptation to climate change, as an IAPH contribution to the discussion over the urgency of adopting a global carbon pricing mechanism and sensible use of its generated revenues. The event concluded with a panel discussion moderated by Climate Champions maritime lead Katharine Palmer and featuring Port of Baku director general Taleh Ziyadov, DP World senior vice president on sustainability Ayla Bajwa, PSA International head of operations and sustainability Eddy Ng, and Prumo/Port of Açu ESG and international relations director Eduardo Kantz. The four ports shared their work and vision on both decarbonization and climate resilience.
