About MERC

The Maritime Emissions Reduction Coalition (MERC) is an innovation cluster initiated by Maritime Impulse↗.

MERC exists to accelerate the reduction of Australia’s maritime green house gas (GHG) emissions. It does this by:

  • Uniting leading organisations in the maritime, manufacturing, energy, finance, government, and education sectors,

  • Advocating with governments and regulators for industry needs,

  • Facilitating researching into the best ways for maritime operators to decarbonise,

  • Connecting innovative suppliers with early adopter customers,

  • Helping manufacturers scale up and commercialise sustainable products,

  • Improving Australia's sovereign capacity to deliver maritime electrification, and

  • Coordinating collaborative innovation projects across the industry.

MERC also offers members:

  • Involvement in MERC programs and workstreams,

  • Promotion to customers (local and international),

  • Access to MERC events and workshops,

  • Help finding and introductions to funding opportunities,

  • Market, technology, and scenario analysis,

  • Greater opportunities for collaboration within the industry, and

  • Discounted services from Maritime Impulse (20% Member discount).

Our Values

Collaboration

Because real systemic change requires focused effort from across the system, the MERC community values collaboratively addressing the problem of emissions reduction, rather than each organisation going their own way.

Delivering Outcomes

Because we focus on accelerating the reduction of maritime emissions, the MERC community values delivering real outcomes in terms of GHG emissions reduction over improving commercial profits, although both are necessary.

Pragmatism

Because exciting and novel, but impractical, ideas can often distract and delay change, the MERC community values pragmatic solutions that deliver some real value soon, rather than perfect ideas that may never be delivered.

Good Stewardship

Because there is a responsibility to future generations, the MERC community values being good stewards of the human, financial, environmental, and social resources under our control and influence.

Transparency

Because things will go wrong, and not every idea can work, the MERC community values transparency, especially when it comes to limitations and issues, rather than the appearance of confidence.

Generosity

Because collaboration requires an openness of spirit and an attitude of growth, the MERC community values acting with generosity towards others, a willingness to help and provide support where we can.

Our Why

The United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) are one of the best examples we know of a set of goals that businesses, academia, politicians, and communities can get behind to focus our combined efforts on improving the world for future generations. To that end there are three in particular which resonate with us and focus our efforts at MERC.

We believe that the need to make a difference in acting on the reality of climate change means that climate mitigation (e.g. reducing fuel use) and adaptation (e.g. adjusting for changes in marine environments) is both important and worth doing.

We believe that as people who love Australia’s ocean, inland waterways, rivers, and lakes we have a responsibility to ensure that our family, neighbours, community, and descendants also have an opportunity to enjoy those things. So we must only take actions that improve, not harm life on and below water.

We believe that we can create and promote commercial solutions for these things which are innovative, inclusive, and sustainable. Doing so can help make Australia a net contributor to sustainable development around the world.