Business and industry should become climate neutral. This also has consequences for inland shipping. The ships will transport less oil and coal in the future.
In view of the transition of business and industry to renewable energies, countries are calling for a realignment of inland shipping. As a result of the transformation to climate neutrality, freight volumes for coal and mineral oil will no longer be necessary, according to a draft resolution from North Rhine-Westphalia for the Conference of Transport Ministers (VMK) in Duisburg.
The Federal Ministry of Transport is called upon to develop new markets for inland shipping as well as ports and waterways. This also includes efforts to ensure that inland shipping can be operated in a climate-neutral manner by 2050 at the latest.
Regardless of this, secure and adequate financing of federal waterways is urgent for a sustainable transport system and strengthening Germany’s economic location. However, it is currently becoming apparent that the European Commission’s new financial framework does not have enough resources to create an efficient transport network in line with the European climate protection goals.
Inland shipping is also needed for climate protection
Inland shipping is a mode of transport of the future and makes an important contribution to achieving European climate protection goals, said NRW Environment and Transport Minister Oliver Krischer (Greens), current VMK chairman. “That’s why we’re calling on the federal government to lobby the European Commission for sufficient funding.” The aim is to support the industry in its transformation, to open up new markets for the transport of goods by ship and to better network the sea and inland ports. WDR first reported.
The transport ministers of the federal states will meet in Duisburg on Wednesday and Thursday for their autumn conference. The port of Duisburg is considered the largest inland port in the world.
Source: Stern
