Motivation
The Mediterranean Sea is a particularly vulnerable, semi-enclosed basin facing increasing pollution from growing maritime traffic. The eastern Mediterranean, a key hub for international trade and shipping, faces specific challenges for a sustainable blue economy, while remaining largely outside the scope of coordinated regional initiatives. At the same time, limited alignment between EU and neighbouring non-EU countries hinders collective progress towards ambitious decarbonisation targets. Meanwhile, recent setbacks in global climate regulation have further highlighted the need for evidence-based planning and robust analytic tools to support informed decision-making, reduce investment and policy risks, and enable a coordinated clean energy transition. Focusing on the Mediterranean Sea basin provides a scalable, region-specific approach to support both industry stakeholders and policy makers.
Positioning
Considering the need for a regional approach in the shipping decarbonisation challenge, while also acknowledging the weak efforts in the eastern Mediterranean, in conjunction with the WestMED initiative priorities and activities, and the uncertainties regarding the various decarbonisation options for industry stakeholders, the Mediterranean Sustainable Shipping Observatory (MSSO) is established, as a decarbonisation hub focusing on eastern and wider Mediterranean region.
Vision
Its vision is to leave behind a mature, scalable, and data-driven foundation that can continue supporting regional shipping decarbonisation, while it aspires to serve as a point of reference for decarbonisation initiatives in the region, especially in the Eastern Mediterranean.
Network
Beyond a technical platform and an active observatory, the MSSO fosters cross-Mediterranean collaboration through a growing community of stakeholders in the region and beyond, who exchange knowledge and shape the future of shipping.