UN draft calls on international shipping to halve greenhouse gas emissions by 2050
A working group of the UN’s International Maritime Organisation (IMO) released an interim strategy on 6 April, which calls on international shipping to reduce total annual greenhouse gas emissions from 2008 levels by at least 50% by 2050.
The strategy will need to be finalised by 13 April at the Maritime Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) of the IMO but the issue remains uncertain as deep divisions prevail among the 173 IMO member states.
The MEPC is expected to adopt an initial strategy on the reduction of GHG emissions from ships, which is to set out the future vision for international shipping, the levels of ambition to reduce GHG emissions and guiding principles, the IMO said.
It should include possible short-, mid- and long-term further measures with possible timelines and their impacts on states, as well as identify barriers and supportive measures including capacity building, technical cooperation and R&D, it added.
Maritime emissions are especially problematic because most ships run on fuel oil, which is far more carbon intensive and contains more air pollutants, such as sulfur, than fuels used in road transport.
International shipping is not covered by the Paris Agreement, which is based on national commitments, although it has a carbon print the size of Germany.
Under pressure
The shipping industry is facing increasing pressure from climate campaigners, business representatives, the EU and small islands states in the Pacific to commit to the Paris agreement.
They support a 70-100% reduction by 2050 scenario, which they say is needed to align with the Paris Agreement.
As negotiations begin on 9 April, EU Transport Commissioner Violeta Bulc called for a “meaningful” greenhouse gas strategy from the IMO.
