Recently, the Jiangsu Association for Science and Technology officially released the “2025 List of Recognized Jiangsu Provincial Academician and Expert Innovation Centers” (Su Ke Xie Fa [2025] No. 66). Among them, the “Jiangsu Provincial Academician and Expert Innovation Center—Ship Carbon Footprint Industry Research Institute,” jointly established by China Classification Society Quality Certification Co., Ltd. (CCSC) and the Jiangsu Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers, was successfully approved. This marks a critical step for Jiangsu Province in advancing the green and low-carbon development of the shipbuilding industry and building an independent carbon footprint accounting system. As the supporting unit, CCSC will leverage its professional expertise in standard formulation, certification, inspection, testing, and green low-carbon technologies to lead the institute’s development, providing core support for Jiangsu and even the national shipbuilding industry in achieving its “dual carbon” goals.
Against the backdrop of global efforts to address climate change and China’s steadfast commitment to its “dual carbon” targets, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) is accelerating shipping emission reduction efforts. Regional regulations such as the EU’s “Fit for 55” climate policy package (including Fuel EU Maritime) have been successively implemented, placing unprecedented pressure on the shipbuilding industry to undergo green transformation while also presenting new opportunities. As the largest shipbuilding hub in China, Jiangsu is dedicated to building a world-class shipbuilding industry cluster. To enhance China’s international influence and competitiveness in shipbuilding, it is imperative to establish a scientific, unified, and internationally recognized carbon footprint accounting and management system for ships.
The establishment of the Jiangsu Provincial Ship Carbon Footprint Industry Research Institute is a strategic move to align with the national “dual carbon” strategy, implement the “Green Development Action Plan for the Shipbuilding Industry (2024–2030),” and secure a voice in international green regulations. The institute will focus on carbon emission monitoring, accounting, certification, and reduction technologies across the entire lifecycle of ships. Its objectives include:
– Building an independent standard system to improve carbon footprint accounting methods and lead the development of ship carbon footprint standards.
– Creating a core database to establish an authoritative, localized carbon footprint factor database for the shipbuilding industry, providing foundational support for accurate accounting.
– Promoting technological innovation to help shipyards reduce costs, improve efficiency, and achieve process-level carbon reduction.
– Enhancing green supply chain management by fostering the integration of green supply chains and industrial chains, thereby boosting the industry’s global competitiveness.
CCSC will take the lead in forming an efficient organizational structure and collaborate with the Jiangsu Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers, along with major shipyards, core supporting enterprises, universities, and research institutions across the province, to establish an initial member network. This will create a robust platform for industry-academia-research collaboration.
The institute has outlined “four key tasks” and “eight implementation measures,” along with short-, medium-, and long-term development goals. Short-term objectives include compiling the “Jiangsu Provincial Product Carbon Label Certification (Ship Products) Research Report,” developing accounting methodologies, and releasing group standards for ship carbon footprint quantification.
The establishment of the Jiangsu Provincial Ship Carbon Footprint Industry Research Institute represents another significant milestone for CCSC in serving national strategies and empowering the industry’s green transformation. Leveraging this provincial-level high-end platform, CCSC will strengthen technological breakthroughs, facilitate the translation of research outcomes, cultivate high-end professionals, deepen international cooperation, promote mutual recognition, support corporate transformation, enhance the green competitiveness of China’s shipbuilding industry, and accelerate the internationalization of China’s carbon footprint standards.
With a strong sense of responsibility and mission, CCSC, under the leadership of its headquarters, will work closely with partners to develop the Jiangsu Provincial Ship Carbon Footprint Industry Research Institute into a leading domestic and internationally influential think tank and technology hub for green and low-carbon ship development. It will contribute “China Classification Society’s strength” and “Jiangsu’s wisdom” to building a world-class shipbuilding industry cluster in Jiangsu, achieving the nation’s “dual carbon” goals, and securing China’s leadership in the global green and low-carbon development of the shipbuilding industry!
