Shipping countries agreed to reduce emissions from the shipping industry sea transport to net zero around 2050 In a deal that isn’t ambitious enough to slow warming to internationally accepted temperature limits, according to several experts and countries. Maritime transport currently accounts for about 3% of greenhouse gas emissions.. A report from the European Parliament warned that this contribution could increase significantly by 2050 if steps are not taken to reduce the industry’s dependence on fossil fuels.
Member states of the United Nations’ International Maritime Organization (IMO) signed an agreement in London on Friday. emissions from shipping reach net zero “in or around” 2050. IMO sources said that this margin of flexibility was adopted to take “different national circumstances” into account.
The plan also includes emissions from transport. Reducing at least 20% (but targeting 30%) by 2030 and at least 70% (but targeting 80%) by 2040Canada has called for more ambitious targets, despite pressure from Pacific nations backed by the United States and the United Kingdom, the Associated Press agency reported.
Experts calculate that if the target of not exceeding an additional 1.5°C of global warming compared to pre-industrial times is to be met, the industry must reduce its emissions by 45% by 2030 and reach net zero by 2050.
IMO Secretary General Kitack Lim said: The agreement is “in many ways a starting point for work that needs to be further intensified in the years and decades to come.”.
“With the revised strategy you have now agreed upon, we have a clear direction, a shared vision and ambitious goals to guide us in meeting the world’s expectations of us,” Lim said in a statement to member states.
The German government welcomed the deal, calling it an “important milestone”. to ensure that international shipping makes a fair contribution to the achievement of the Paris agreement’s temperature targets.
Transport ministry spokesman Florian Druckenthaner said Germany was “lobbying hard” for its goal of net zero emissions by 2050.
Ajithkumar Sukumaran, one of India’s representatives in the negotiations, said the nation was “satisfied with the outcome, but is still concerned about the extent to which the spirit of this declaration will be translated into reality, especially to ensure that developing countries do not do so”. may be affected by these emissions targets.
Sukumaran urged IMO to establish mechanisms to assess whether the objectives set out in the agreement are being implemented.
Disappointment Among Environmentalists
By contrast, conservation groups are not happy with the deal. Does not set 2050 as target date for net zero emissions It also does not comply with the warming limit set in the Paris agreement.
“There is a clear disparity between the (IMO) targets and those set by the critical 1.5C target of the Paris Agreement.“This is a difference we cannot afford,” said Harjeet Singh, Head of Global Policy Strategy International, Climate Action Network.
“we don’t have time to wait Diane Gilpin, founder and CEO of Smart Green Shipping, said in a press release that it will continue until regulation or alternative fuels are fully available. “We need to act urgently and work with what we have.”
Ship tax remained on the table
On the other hand, at this meeting of IMO The decision to tax carbon emissions has been delayed to help pay for investments in cleaner fuels and technologies. and supporting the ecological transition of developing countries.
Deputy Secretary General Simon Bennett The International Chamber of Shipping, which represents 80% of the world’s commercial fleet, said the group “greatly welcomes the ambitious deal”.however, he urged IMO to accept the industry’s proposal to have this tax on emissions voluntary.
Bennett said a tax would create a market for cleaner fuels that are currently either not scalable or too expensive for the industry.
Some environmentalists support the idea of the tax, but say the industry proposal hinders the progress of more ambitious ideas.
IMO targets are reviewed every five years. The previous goal was for the shipping industry to at least halve its emissions between 2008 and 2050.
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Contact address of the environment department: crizclimatica@prensaiberica.es
Source: Informacion
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