GreenVoyage2050 Partner countries convene for Global Programme Task Force meeting and maritime-energy workshop in Malaysia
Partner countries of the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) GreenVoyage2050 programme convened in Malaysia this week for the Global Programme Task Force (GPTF) meeting and a joint integrated maritime-energy policy planning workshop, hosted in Johor, Malaysia.
The GPTF meeting, organized in partnership with the Malaysia Marine Department and hosted by Port of Tanjung Pelepas (PTP), brought together representatives from 14 partner countries, GreenVoyage2050 donors and the IMO Secretariat to discuss implementation challenges, share lessons learned, and identify priorities for the next phase of the programme. Donor countries Norway, Denmark, and France participated in the meeting, contributing perspectives on strategic direction, collaboration, and future priorities.
Participants from Bangladesh, Belize, Cook Islands, Egypt, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Malaysia, Mexico, Nigeria, Solomon Islands, Türkiye and Viet Nam shared national progress updates and exchanged experiences across key areas of GreenVoyage2050 implementation, including National Action Plans and pilot projects.
Reflecting on the discussions, Astrid Dispert, Project Manager of IMO GreenVoyage2050, highlighted the value of collective learning across the programme:
“The Global Programme Task Force is where GreenVoyage2050 comes together in practice. By bringing partner countries and donors into one room, we can focus on what is working on the ground, what needs to change, and how we collectively prioritise the next phase of action in line with the IMO’s 2023 GHG Strategy.”
The meeting was opened by Mr. Khairil Azizie bin Che Mat, Director of Marine, Malaysia Marine Department Southern Region, who emphasized:
“This meeting is a powerful reflection of Malaysia’s commitment to global maritime decarbonization and to the objectives of the IMO’s GHG Strategy. Malaysia is pleased to work closely with the IMO and partner countries to strengthen implementation and deliver tangible outcomes.”
Advancing integrated maritime and energy policy planning
Alongside the GPTF meeting, the IMO GreenVoyage2050 programme and GIZ’s International PtX Hub delivered a two-day Integrated Maritime and Energy Policy Planning Workshop, marking the launch of a new policy planning toolkit designed to better align maritime decarbonization strategies with national energy and climate frameworks.
The workshop addressed a common policy gap in which maritime and energy policies are often developed separately, despite increasingly interconnected energy, climate and transport challenges. Participants explored practical methodologies related to national energy system assessments, the role of zero- and near-zero-emission fuels in shipping, policy coherence across sectors, and access to green finance.
Interactive sessions enabled countries to identify national barriers and opportunities and develop near-term action plans, supported by hands-on self-assessment exercises. A tour of Port of Tanjung Pelepas provided real-world context by showcasing port infrastructure initiatives, digitalisation and sustainability, supporting operational excellence and the maritime-energy transition.
Highlighting the role of ports in supporting decarbonization efforts, Mark Hardiman, Chief Executive Officer of Port of Tanjung Pelepas, said:
“As Port of Tanjung Pelepas marks our 25th Anniversary, hosting this gathering reflects our evolution from a bold vision into a port taking practical action to support the maritime-energy transition. Under Malaysia’s participation as a pioneer pilot country in GreenVoyage2050, our Green Tug and Pilot Boat initiative was selected as the national pilot project. Through GreenVoyage2050, we have worked closely with the Marine Department and IMO partners to translate policy ambition into real-world infrastructure, operational improvements and measurable emissions reduction.”
The meeting highlighted the role of continued collaboration under the GreenVoyage2050 programme in translating ambition into action and supporting the implementation of the IMO’s 2023 GHG Strategy.
GreenVoyage2050 Programme
GreenVoyage2050 is a major technical cooperation programme initiated by the International Maritime Organization to assist developing countries in reducing GHG emissions from shipping, in line with the 2023 IMO GHG Strategy.
Now in its second phase (2024–2030), GreenVoyage2050 is supporting partner countries in developing National Action Plans (NAPs) as well as implementing pilot projects to test solutions for reducing GHG emissions from ships.
Leveraging funding from the Governments of Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, the Netherlands and Norway, the GreenVoyage2050 Programme continues to expand, with new countries added each year.