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Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from human activities are driving climate change and are currently at their highest levels in history. The international community, through the United Nations process, places great emphasis on the decarbonisation of our economies across all sectors. GHG emissions from maritime transport, even if considered the most carbon efficient method of transportation, are projected to increase if no action is taken to decarbonise, and thus pressure has extended to the maritime sector to contribute to the significant GHG emission cuts necessary. The paths by which the maritime sector can contribute to the achievement of the international target of GHG reduction by 2050 are still being determined, but numerous promising options exist. This paper aims to provide an overview of action towards decarbonisation by the international maritime sector, and to assess how Cyprus, an important flag state, can contribute to decarbonisation efforts. A participatory approach was used, through implementation of the EIT Climate-KIC’s Deep Demonstrations methodology, as part of the ‘ Zero-Net Emissions, Resilient Maritime Hubs in Cyprus’ project. The results were used to identify a portfolio of actions related to policy and regulatory development, education and re-skilling, technological development, and operation optimisation, which can support the decarbonisation of the maritime sector in Cyprus.

Blue Energy (BE) is expected to play a strategic role in the energy transition of Europe, particularly toward the 2050 horizon. It refers to a set of Marine Energy Sources (MES), including offshore wind, waves, tides, marine currents, sea thermal energy, salinity gradients, and marine biomass, which are exploited by different BE technologies. Nevertheless, the implementation of integrated solutions to exploit MES in marine areas does not just concern technological issues; it requires inclusive planning practices considering different aspects regarding climate and environmental impacts, landscape compatibility, interference with other marine activities (such as shipping, fishing, and tourism), and social acceptance. A replicable BE planning framework has been developed based on interdisciplinary knowledge in three Mediterranean sites in Greece, Croatia, and Cyprus, under the scope of the Interreg Med BLUE DEAL project. It has been implemented by some interdisciplinary experts through a collaborative and iterative process of data elaboration, mapping, evaluation, and visualization. Results concern the localization of suitable sites to install BE plants and the estimation of potential energy production and avoided emissions in selected scenarios. Together with visual simulations, this study shows the potential effects of the implementation of BE in specific marine areas, with a special focus on the most promising offshore floating wind farms and wave energy converters (WECs), as basic information for participative design and stakeholder engagement initiatives, including public authorities, businesses, and citizens.