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Now how do these huge diesel powered ships even think bout going green? Jomarie Lanza was there and here's what she learned:

Belize relies heavily on its import and export sectors - to provide a backbone for the economy and to keep and to keep products on the shelves.

And like many other countries concerned about the impact of climate change, Belize now finds itself exploring renewable energy alternatives for its shipping industry, more specifically how the Caribbean can reduce its shipping emissions:

Kaylon Young, Acting Ports Commissioner
"Belize has been one of the leaders in the Caribbean pushing de-carbonization within our region. Belize has looked at developing national action plans for de-carbonization within Belize and we've pushed the Caribbean region to discuss this at the IMO. We led the Caribbean delegation at the IMO earlier in March to discuss these negotiations and so we decided that we would be able to host all of them in Belize so that everyone can be up to speed on the discussions on where and what we want to achieve as a Caribbean region and the way forward."

"Belize does have a vibrant shipping industry that the data would be with our international registry with IMMARBE. What we are working on with them is to see how we can deal with the emissions from these ships and how we can decarbonize. The strategy has already been agreed that we want to decarbonize by 2050 so how we go about doing that is how we would be negotiating with them and with the world."

In seeking to decarbonize the shipping industry, there are numerous challenges to be wary of, for instance how shipping lines adapt these new forms of renewable energy, and fuel fees without creating a lag in the industry.

The International Maritime Organization who is leading the discussion and today's workshop says that through the collaboration of stakeholders, they are trying to develop a strategy that works for everyone.

Camille Bourgeon, IMO, Technical Officer
"I think the first objective is really to raise awareness on the different aspects of shipping de-carbonization and to foster collaboration at the regional level. With a view to preparing the next steps of discussion at the IMO with other regions and other countries which will take place in September and October in London."

"Shipping is a crucial industry it serves the global economy and trade the global economy and trade ships move more than 80% of goods around the world and so the decarbonization of this sector has implications on everyone and others. So it is important to bring this to the attention of all the potentially impacted stakeholders and get their views and also get their proposals and recommendations on how to further develop the global regulations which is the first mandate of the IMO, developing global rules for global shipping."

In the Netherlands, which ships to the Dutch Caribbean, they've begun to explore the avenue of green fuels.

Jasper Faber, Netherlands, Ministry of Infrastructure, and water Management
"In our Kingdom of course we have three Caribbean countries, Aruba, Curacao and St Maartin, and also we'd like to extend the bonds with the rest of the Caribbean countries especially for our discussions for the ongoing negotiations at IMO."

"I think what we are primarily hoping to learn from here is to get a better understanding of the needs of the Caribbean countries and what is needed for them to decarbonize shipping and also in terms of capacity building technical cooperation and finance issues."

"The Netherlands is trying to take the leading role both at developing regulations at the IMO where we coordinate closely with the other EU member states and we are trying to help technology development through subsidizing new innovations of ships with sailing on green fuels like methanol and hydrogen."

80 participants from 18 different countries participated in the workshop.