Vancouver Maritime Centre for Climate launches decarbonization initiative

In the wake of its recent official opening, the Vancouver Maritime Centre for Climate (VMCC) has opened and launched Operation Flagship, a decarbonization initiative to address climate change and reduce carbon footprint of shipping communities.

As informed, the program will help facilitate the provision of climate solution pilots and accelerate the implementation and/or adoption of emission reduction solutions. 

The purpose of these pilot projects is to help ship owners, operators, ports & terminals as well as the supporting land-based infrastructure source innovative and sustainable solutions suited to their operating profile to help them to reduce their GHG emissions or to decarbonize completely, as revealed in the statement.

Innovators are encouraged to apply online via VMCC’s website.

“Operation Flagship is designed to bring together innovators with site hosts to demonstrate the effectiveness of new or existing decarbonizing solutions. This program will help to accelerate and scale solutions that have real impacts on maritime industry emissions,” said co-founder, Bryan Buggey. 

VMCC has launched the operation with funding from Environment and Climate Change Canada, in collaboration with Det Norsk Veritas (DNV) a Norwegian risk management company, as well as locally based, Foresight Canada, a clean-tech accelerator and Brightspot Climate, a climate change and energy consultant.

Emphasizing the fact that VMCC has a broad reach both locally and internationally, VMCC’s co-founder Elisabeth Charmley commented: “Our community is already taking action to address climate change and reduce their carbon footprint, so it’s important that we work with them to help them get the tools and resources they need to not only meet but exceed emission targets coming down the pipeline.”

Further on, VMCC will help the local shipping industry gain access to innovation, innovators and other solutions that can help the industry meet climate targets established by the International Maritime Organization, Federal Government and the Northwest Ports Clean Air Strategy.   

Canadian Government announced new target commitments at the recent 2021 Leaders’ Summit on Climate, introducing the 40-45% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions below 2005 levels by 2030.

Speaking at at the VMCC launch on April 30th, Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Environment and Climate Change, commented that Canada is “on track to meet a 36% reduction, but still more needs to be done”.

“Healthier oceans are more productive ones. The sustainable growth of our oceans and its role in decarbonization is absolutely one of the most important opportunities of our time.  When we come together to tackle shared challenges, some of the most powerful outcomes can be achieved,” Kendra MacDonald, CEO of Canada’s Ocean Supercluster, concluded.