International shipping contributes approximately 3% of global carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, prompting the International Maritime Organization (IMO) to aim for net-zero shipping greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2050 to mitigate climate change. Shipping is a critical link between countries for transporting goods, and its future advancements will hinge primarily on customer demand for goods and regional growth trends. This study has a dual objective. First, this work seeks to establish a methodological framework for forecasting the trajectory of future global trade. Second, it aims to utilize the estimated future seaborne trade to understand the impact on energy demand in the shipping sector across three scenarios.

Fellow- Transportation & Infrastructure
Dr. AHM Mehbub Anwar is a fellow at KAPSARC. He currently leads the Energy Decision Model for Maritime, which results…
Dr. AHM Mehbub Anwar is a fellow at KAPSARC. He currently leads the Energy Decision Model for Maritime, which results in research outcomes as well as advisory inputs for the energy ecosystem across the Kingdom. This project investigates future port activity including seaborne trade and fuel consumption in the shipping sector both locally and globally. He also works on the KAPSARC Spatial Urban Energy System (KSUES) project. Prior to joining KAPSARC, he worked in Transport for New South Wales (TfNSW), a state government organisation, as a transport planner, and at the University of Wollongong (UOW) in Australia as a researcher. He led the update on the state of transport in the TfNSW regions as part of the strategic planning for its Future Transport 2056. He has also worked as a lecturer at Khulna University of Bangladesh, and was later promoted to a professor in urban transport planning. He holds a Ph.D. with an examiners’ commendation for an outstanding thesis from the UOW. His thesis focused on modeling travellers’ preference heterogeneity.
Expertise
- Urban sustainable mobility
- Port activity
- Alternative fuels and enerygy efficiency
- Choice modeling
- Future transport strategy at local and national level
Publications See all Ahm Mehbub Anwar’s publications

A Review Approach to Understanding the Current Status of Port Resilience: Lessons Learned for GCC Ports
International shipping contributes approximately 3% of global carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, prompting the International Maritime…
14th January 2025
Analyzing the Interplay of Urbanization, Economic Development, and Seaborne Trade A Case of Saudi Arabia
International shipping contributes approximately 3% of global carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, prompting the International Maritime…
18th December 2024