Grupo TIBA Urges Maritime Logistics to Cut Emissions

Grupo TIBA hosted its third annual Foro de TIBA: FUTURA – Sustainability in Logistics, where industry leaders discussed how the maritime shipping industry must balance cost increases, customer negotiation, and logistics restructuring to meet decarbonization goals. Panelists outlined sector-wide targets of reducing emissions by 30% by 2030, 80% by 2040, and achieving net-zero by 2050. The forum comes as the maritime industry—which accounts for roughly 3% of global greenhouse gas emissions and consumes nearly 5% of the world’s petroleum—faces growing pressure to reduce its environmental impact.

Javier Moreira, Country Manager, CMA CGM in Mexico, noted that his company currently operates 160 “green ships” and aims to have half its fleet meet that standard by 2030. He emphasized that achieving these goals requires collaboration between shipping firms and clients on pricing, operations, and service expectations.

Vanessa Calderón, Product Director, TIBA Mexico, highlighted the importance of working with clients and sourcing from providers offering sustainability-oriented solutions. She stressed that logistics chains and suppliers must implement innovations in efficiency and emissions reduction to make maritime transport both more strategic and less wasteful.

Regina Sánchez Sasso of Silvestrum Climate Associates added that regulatory frameworks must support these transitions by offering incentives, fostering competition, and ensuring transparent measurement. “Measurement is fundamental for tracking progress and proving value,” she said.

Panelists agreed that sustainability can become a competitive advantage when integrated into business models. “Sustainability is a matter of negotiation with customers … the challenge is how to add value and leverage these elements as competitive advantages, such as preferred access at docks for sustainable cargo,” Moreira said.

The TIBA forum followed the Second Binational Forum on Sustainable Maritime Transport and Ports in the Three Californias, held June 26–27 in Ensenada. That summit brought together government, industry, and civil society leaders, including shipping companies, fuel producers and distributors, port operators, environmental regulators, maritime safety authorities, national port administrators, and international financing agencies. Discussions focused on vessel operational improvements, port energy efficiency, regulatory incentives, green corridors, onshore ship power, and adoption of alternative fuels.

Catalina López-Sagástegui, Director of the Marine Program, Institute of the Americas, emphasized that the global maritime sector is moving toward stricter standards, making efficiency, financing, and regulation critical. “Decarbonization, energy efficiency, and financing opportunities are key topics, and this forum enables the technical discussions needed to drive concrete action in the sector,” she said.

Ninel Escobar of WWF Mexico highlighted that maritime, port transport, and energy sectors must accelerate transformation. She warned that without meaningful action, emissions from marine transport and port operations will continue to exacerbate climate pressures, harming marine ecosystems and public health. Salomón Díaz, WWF’s Coordinator for Maritime Decarbonization, called for more “champion companies” to demonstrate that sustainability is achievable, advocating for green maritime corridors and voluntary speed reduction programs.

José Manuel Urreta Ortega, president of CAMEINTRAM, stressed the economic and competitive benefits of sustainability. He noted that the Three Californias region has the opportunity to lead the transition and that decarbonization should be seen not as a burden, but as a path to greater competitiveness, investment, port modernization, and job creation. Key enabling measures identified by forum participants include financial incentives, technical assistance, regulatory certainty, and infrastructure for onshore power supply to docked vessels.