Edghill touts ‘proactive thinking’ to achieve greener, safer technology for maritime sector
Public Works Minister Juan Edghill is urging local maritime bodies to take up an active role and focus on new initiatives for a greener marine sector.
His request coincides with observances for World Maritime Day focused on ocean sustainability. This year the day was observed under the theme “New Technologies for Greener Shipping.”
It aims to highlight the need to support the industry in transitioning to greener operations in order to support a sustainable future.
While delivering the feature address at the opening of the World Maritime Day expo on Thursday, the Public Works Minister said the Maritime Administration Department (MARAD), must be forward thinking in pursuing a lower carbon footprint in Guyana.
“We must not be lazy but, we must be heavily pursuing in that direction… Guyana must be showcased as a good model and a best practice of what can be done to bring about changes.” Edghill said.
Further, he reminded that Guyana has signed the international treaty on climate change, the Paris Agreement. Therefore, Guyana must focus on reducing emissions to reach net zero by 2050.
Edghill highlighted the importance of mitigating climate change in the ocean to prevent the loss of marine life. He said citizens have to be aware of the devastating effects that our actions cause and that the three Rs – reduce, reuse, recycle- must be considered by vessel crews.
In addition, he encouraged partnerships between MARAD and other local maritime bodies to use innovative thinking in developing new technologies and ideas for sustainable living.
“We must not only be reading about the new technologies for greener shipping but we must develop the ‘think tank’ in house capacity, encourage partnerships with the universities that exist in our nation’s state and our partners we are collaborating with, to develop some of those new technologies that will see greener shipping taking place and we must be able to share that with the rest of the world,” Edghill said.