Shipping's actions could sink global climate goals

The international shipping sector has one last chance to decide how to control and reduce greenhouse gas emissions before UN negotiators meet in Copenhagen this December to tackle climate change, according to the European Federation for Transport and Environment (T&E).

The International Maritime Organisation (IMO) is set to meet in London next week to address how to meet its emissions reductions responsibilities under the Kyoto Protocol. If the IMO doesn’t take action, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) are expected to press for imposed targets in Copenhagen: 40 per cent below 1990 levels by 2020, and 80 per cent below 1990 levels by 2050.

NGOs are also likely to seek that shipping discussions be transferred to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

“The need to address shipping emissions is too urgent to be left in the hands of the IMO, who have consistently stalled when they need to take real action,” said Bill Hemmings of T&E. “We cannot risk another decade of delay. If they cannot make real commitments to cut emissions, and back this up with action, then it is time for the UNFCCC to step in.”

IMO has been discussing possible measures to reduce emissions including emission trading or a levy; an emissions standard for new and existing ships; as well as operational measures to reduce emissions. However, developed and developing countries are split over who should participate. Developed countries insist that shipping is a global industry and any scheme must cover everyone, while poorer countries point to the principle of ‘Common But Differentiated Responsibilities’ applied in climate negotiations and insist that only developed countries should be covered.

“One way out of the current deadlock is for every country to participate in a global shipping scheme, but for the revenues generated by a levy on fuel, or by auctioning emissions permits to go exclusively towards helping developing countries to fight climate change,” said Peter Lockley, head of transport policy at WWF-UK. “That way, poorer nations will ultimately receive more than they pay in. But for such an offer to be credible, rich countries must show that they are willing to transfer this money and not keep it to plug budget deficits at home. Developed countries have long argued that the emissions belong to no individual country — they can’t now lay claim to the proceeds of any levy on those emissions. The least IMO can do at this session is pass a resolution guaranteeing the revenues will go to developing countries.”