ADEME supports Green Marine Europe

ADEME is determined to move the yardsticks in order to build a more sober and inclusive society and is at the service of all stakeholders (the State, businesses, local authorities and citizens) in order to accelerate the reduction in our energy consumption, develop renewable energies and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

ADEME has been a long-standing and proactive supporter of Green Marine Europe (GME) since its inception. It is now officially part of our membership, as a supporter of Green Marine Europe.

Committed to the environmental performance of the maritime sector

Maritime transport plays an essential role in the global economy, but also contributes significantly to environmental degradation. Nearly 50,000 merchant ships ply the world's seas and oceans, mostly using heavy fuel oil. Maritime freight is therefore a major emitter of CO2, yet it has been slow to make the transition to an energy-intensive industry.

The International Maritime Organisation has set a target of zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, and these emissions are likely to double. However, if no measures are taken, and given the constant increase in demand for transport, these emissions are likely to double.

To accelerate the ecological transition of maritime transport, ADEME has therefore chosen to support the Green Marine Europe certification program.

ADEME, an expert contributor to the Green Marine Europe certification program

Thanks to its reputation and environmental expertise, ADEME is playing an active role in developing and updating the Green Marine Europe environmental certification standards. ADEME is convinced that the ecological transition of the maritime sector must cover a wide range of criteria and address all players in the maritime industry (shipyards, ports and shipowners).

In 2018, ADEME took part in the discussions that led to the creation of Green Marine Europe certification two years later. In 2020, ADEME became involved in the launch and structuring of the certification, supported by Surfrider Foundation Europe and Green Marine. Three years later, ADEME is pleased to see the association emancipate itself and attract more and more European shipowners. The inclusion of shipyards and ports (in the test phase) in the Green Marine Europe approach also reflects the positive development of certification.

ADEME, official supporter of Green Marine Europe: a way of extending this contribution

External partners and relays such as Green Marine Europe enable ADEME to intervene with a multitude and diversity of stakeholders that the Agency would not have been able to support directly on an individual basis. In addition to supporting the initiative launched by GME and the maritime industry, ADEME publishes expert studies and finances innovation and experimentation projects in maritime transport, which can be taken into account in the GME certification standards.

"We are delighted to have been involved with Green Marine Europe since 2020. The program has succeeded in bringing together industry and government partners to build, in a transparent and open way, a rigorous approach to continuous environmental improvement. We are following with interest the commitment of European shipowners to the ecological transition and hope to see the number of certified ships grow in the years to come. ADEME expects this certification to be recognised by shippers through their requirements when choosing carriers. Given the urgency of climate change and the threat to marine ecosystems, environmental improvement must be a priority for the shipping industry. Sylvain Waserman, Chairman of ADEME, the French Agency for Ecological Transition