Goal is to reduce emissions by at least 50 percent by 2050 compared to 2008 while pursuing efforts toward phasing them out.
Shipping groups praised a greenhouse gas (GHG) strategy adopted by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) at the Marine Environment Protection Committee on Friday.
But, according to a Reuters report, “Delegates said opposition from some countries, including the United States, Saudi Arabia and Panama, had limited what could be achieved.”
The IMO said its “initial strategy” is for a reduction in total GHG emissions from international shipping which “should peak as soon as possible” and seek to “reduce the total annual GHG emissions by at least 50 percent by 2050 compared to 2008., while, at the same time, pursuing efforts towards phasing them out entirely.” IMO added the initial strategy is due to be revised by 2023. MEPC said a working group will develop follow-up actions to the strategy adopted Friday and report when the committee meets again in October.
A State Department spokesman provided a transcript of the U.S. national
statement delivered at the MEPC meeting on Friday which stated “there
are elements of the initial strategy that are unacceptable to the United
States.”
“First and foremost, we object to the reference to the
principle of common but differentiated responsibilities and respective
capabilities, in the light of different national circumstances,” the
statement explained, saying the IMO “has always operated under the
principles of non-discrimination and no more favorable treatment.”
It
also said the U.S. does “not support the establishment of an absolute
reduction target at this time. In 2016, MEPC adopted a data collection
system for energy efficiency and GHG emissions from international
shipping, starting a three-step approach towards the adoption of further
measures to enhance efficiency and address emissions. Since MEPC has
not yet completed the three-step approach, we see the establishment of
an absolute reduction target as premature. In addition, we note that
achieving significant emissions reductions in the international shipping
sector will depend on technological innovation and further improvement
of energy efficiency.”
The U.S. also expressed “serious concern about
how this document was developed and finalized. States were not allowed
to lead the process and were not provided space to engage in textual
negotiations to resolve differences. This is unacceptable and not
befitting this esteemed organization.” Still it said it would ” continue
to constructively engage in future work related to this strategy, and
in doing so, looks forward to working with our colleagues around this
room in a country-driven process that ensures the views of all countries
are fully considered.”
The statement also noted the initial strategy references the Paris Agreement on climate change but that “the United
States announced that it intends to withdraw from the Paris Agreement as
soon as it is eligible to do so, consistent with the terms of the
Agreement, unless it identifies suitable terms for re-engagement.
Therefore, the references to the Paris Agreement in this document are
without prejudice to U.S. positions.”
Lars Robert Pedersen, the deputy secretary general of BIMCO and delegate at the IMO meeting, called the target ambitious, but not impossible. “In BIMCO we believe that the industry can deliver on this target – even if we don’t exactly know how yet.”
BIMCO says it is the largest shipping association in the world, with around 2,000 members across the industry, representing 56 percent of the world’s tonnage.
Peter Hinchliffe, the secretary general of the International Chamber of Shipping, welcomed the high-level strategy for the further reduction of shipping’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, calling it a “groundbreaking agreement – a Paris Agreement for shipping – that sets a very high level of ambition for the future reduction of CO2 emissions. We are confident this will give the shipping industry the clear signal it needs to get on with the job of developing zero CO2 fuels, so that the entire sector will be in a position to decarbonize completely, consistent with the 1.5 degree climate change goal.”
He added, “The agreed IMO objective of cutting the sector’s total GHG emissions by at least 50 percent before 2050, as part of a continuing pathway for further reduction, is very ambitious indeed, especially when account is taken of current projections for trade growth as the world’s population and levels of prosperity continue to increase.”
Violeta Bulc, the European Union’s commissioner for transport, and
Miguel Arias Canete, commissioner for climate action and energy, said in a statement Friday that “The agreement reached today at the IMO is a significant step forward in the global efforts to tackle climate change. The shipping sector must contribute its fair share to the goals of the Paris Agreement.”
They said the agreement was “accompanied by a comprehensive list of possible reduction measures, including short-term measures.”
While the EU had sought a higher level of ambition the European commissioners said “this is a good starting point that will allow for further review and improvements over time.”
Earlier this week Bulc and Canete had called for “an emission reduction of 70 percent, pursuing efforts toward 100 percent by 2050 compared to 2008 levels.”
A group called the Clean Shipping Coalition said the action was a “welcome and potentially game-changing development,” but added, “The lack of any clear plan of action to deliver the emissions reductions, including urgently needed short-term measures, is a major concern.”
IMO adopts greenhouse gas emissions strategy
