Maritime
Governments Need to Compromise or Risk Having no IMO CO2 Strategy at All
Ship Maneuvering out of Port S . Louis du Rhone near Marseille
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Credit : Roberto Venturini / wikimedia . org head of critical meetings at the UN International Maritime Organization ( IMO ) which commence on 3 April , the International Chamber of Shipping ( ICS ) says that governments must compromise to help IMO agree an ambitious strategy for the fur- ther reduction of CO2 emissions by shipping that will match the expectations of the Paris Agreement on climate change .
“ Governments on all sides of the debate are going to need to show far more willingness to compromise on their current positions or put at risk an agreement on a meaningful strategy . This would greatly undermine the authority of IMO and the future sustainability of the shipping industry ” said ICS Chairman , Esben Poulsson .
“ Agreement upon a mid-century objective for the total reduction of CO2 emissions by the sector , regardless of trade growth , will be vital to discourage unilateral action and to provide the signal needed to stimulate the development of zero CO2 fuels ” Mr Poulsson added . “ But the very high level of ambition proposed by certain EU Member States – a 70 to 100 percent total cut in emissions before 2050 – is unlikely to achieve consensus support .”
Mr Poulsson remarked “ While ICS does not fully agree with them in every respect , alternative proposals made by China and Japan merit serious consideration and could form the basis of a possible compromise . China in particular seems to have made a real effort to move away from its previous opposition to establishing CO2 reduction goals for the sector ’ s total emissions . If EU nations want a global agreement they should acknowledge this by similarly modifying their own positions .”
In a briefing note to its member national shipowners ’ associations , ICS suggests that if IMO was to set an initial objective of cutting the sector ’ s total CO2 emissions by , for example , 50 percent , rather than 70 to 100 percent , this would still require a major improvement in ship efficiency over ‘ business as usual ’. When account is taken of the anticipated growth in maritime trade , ICS says this would still only be possible with the widespread use of zero CO2 fuels .
“ A mid-century objective similar to that proposed by Japan – which might also enjoy support from nations like China if EU nations were willing to compromise – would still provide a compelling signal to the industry . This should also be sufficient to stimulate the development of zero CO2 fuels leading to a 100 percent CO2 reduction in line with the ambitious vision which IMO must agree ” said Mr Poulsson .
ICS and other industry associations have previously proposed the need for an ambitious vision in the IMO strategy , making it clear that the ultimate goal is the elimination of all CO2 emissions from international shipping ( i . e . 100 % reduction ) sometime between 2050 and 2100 , or as soon as the worldwide availability of zero CO2 fuels makes this possible .
In advance of zero CO2 fuels becoming available globally , the industry has also proposed that IMO should adopt the following objectives :
Objective 1 – to maintain international shipping ’ s annual total CO2 emissions below 2008 levels ;
Objective 2 – to reduce CO2 emissions per tonne-km , as an average across international shipping , by at least 50 % by 2050 , compared to 2008 ; and
Objective 3 – reduce international shipping ' s total annual CO2 emissions by an agreed percentage by 2050 , compared to 2008 , as a point on a continuing trajectory of CO2 emissions reduction . shipping . org
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