Hosting COP29 in Baku will set new benchmarks for the world's future in terms of ecology and sustainability, said the Founder and CEO of the world’s leading port consultancy firm Zero Emissions Maritime Technology Ltd., Madadh MacLaine in an exclusive interview with APA.
Mrs. MacLaine emphasized that Azerbaijan is a place for cultures to come together and look at how we can solve this problem together: “I know it's a tired old phrase, but it’s all about collaboration. I think Baku is offering us an opportunity for people who may have been sitting far apart on either side of the fence to come together and discuss mutually beneficial solutions."
Recalling that the Port of Baku became the first green port on the Caspian Sea in 2019, and plans to reach a "zero-emission" target by 2035, the CEO of Zero Emissions Maritime Technology Ltd. said, "It's incredibly important, as we approach COP29, that the Port of Baku uses the greenest technologies and has a roadmap that shows they’re going to deliver on the plan they’ve laid out through 2035. This must include renewable energy."
MacLaine reminded that the main global trend for ports is electrification: "Electrify everything. And if you want to achieve true zero emissions, once you move past electrification, you need to use hydrogen as your energy source. We're seeing this across many ports. And we believe that Baku, strategically placed at the center of the Silk Road, can push this forward. We’re seeing many stakeholders across the Silk Road wanting to transport goods without greenhouse gases. Baku can leverage this to gain support from other stakeholders in implementing the technologies required to reduce emissions."
MacLaine also highlighted that Baku’s importance in terms of a green future will continue to grow: "The International Maritime Organization is closely following these developments, and new regulations will be coming fast, starting in 2027. Again, Baku is well-placed to react to these regulations and reduce emissions, because of the Silk Road. They have stakeholders there who are eager to reduce their emissions and will support the positive moves that Baku is focusing on. As I said, these regulations will come in fast, and we’ll see changes starting in 2027."
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