Amazon, Patagonia, Tchibo, and the Aspen Institute have come together to establish the Zero Emission Maritime Buyers Alliance (ZEMBA) under the Cargo Owners for Zero Emissions Vessels (coZEV) initiative. The alliance’s main objective is to provide companies access to zero-emission shipping solutions that are currently unavailable in the market. With ZEMBA, the members aim to accelerate the commercial deployment of zero-emission shipping and minimize maritime emissions.
The alliance will issue a request for proposal in 2023 to forward procure maritime shipping services that achieve zero or near-zero emissions on a lifecycle basis for all greenhouse gases, not limited to carbon dioxide. The delivery of these services is expected to begin in 2025 or 2026. As the membership grows, ZEMBA plans to run similar tenders with larger volumes of demand until zero-emission shipping becomes mainstream in the industry.
ZEMBA aims to offer committed demand to build confidence among investors, carriers, ship owners, and producers of zero-emission fuels and renewable energy. The alliance aims to remove the climate impact of hard-to-abate sectors such as maritime shipping, which requires continuous collaboration, investment, and innovation.
Kara Hurst, Vice President of Worldwide Sustainability at Amazon, stated that “Removing the climate impact of hard-to-abate sectors, such as maritime shipping, requires continuous collaboration, investment, and innovation – which is why we joined ZEMBA.” Meanwhile, Werner Weber, CEO of Tchibo, stated that “Supporting ZEMBA gives us the opportunity to address the emissions from our logistics, which represent approximately 13% of our overall footprint. The entire maritime value chain, including cargo owners like Tchibo, has to demonstrate leadership in creating a decarbonized maritime sector.”
This initiative is a positive step towards mitigating the adverse effects of climate change. The maritime sector is responsible for a significant portion of global carbon emissions. ZEMBA’s approach will help companies reduce their carbon footprint and make a positive contribution to the environment. Additionally, the alliance’s collaborative approach can help overcome the challenges of creating and deploying zero-emission technologies.
In conclusion, ZEMBA is a significant development in the fight against climate change. The alliance aims to accelerate the deployment of zero-emission shipping and reduce maritime emissions. By working together, ZEMBA members can create the demand needed to decarbonize maritime shipping and support a clean energy transition.
