Several NGOs deplore an insufficient compromise to put the sector on the trajectory of reducing CO2 emissions under the 2015 Paris agreement.
Breakthrough “important”according to some, a text “too weak”, according to others. An international agreement to decarbonize the highly polluting maritime freight sector was promulgated by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) on Friday July 7, but it is less ambitious than hoped for and highly criticized by NGOs.
The agreement highlights “an enhanced common ambition to achieve carbon neutrality for international sea freight by 2050”, according to the IMO, which depends on the UN. In the shorter term, it aims to reduce CO2 emissions “an average of at least 40% by 2030 compared to 2008”. The compromise provides for non-binding targets for reducing polluting emissions by at least 70% by 2040 compared to 2008.
“A success”, says France
The French Secretary of State for the Sea, Hervé Berville, hailed a “major step (…) towards climate neutrality” before the adoption of coercive measures. “We certainly sat down at the negotiating table with stronger ambitions than the final agreement reached”he admitted, “but it is undeniably a success”.
The European Union was indeed calling, during negotiations this week at the IMO headquarters in London, for a goal of net zero emissions by 2050 with two intermediate stages: a reduction of 29% in 2030 and 83% in 2040. Pacific states, particularly threatened by global warming, wanted to go further, supported by the United States, the United Kingdom and Canada: -96% by 2040.
The carbon tax divides
Conversely, many major exporters such as China, Brazil and Argentina held back, saying that overly strict targets would benefit rich countries at the expense of developing countries. They were opposed in particular to the project of a carbon tax, supported by Emmanuel Macron and by companies like the giant of the maritime freight Maersk. The idea now only appears in the draft agreement in a range of proposed measures to reduce freight emissions.
Environmental NGOs, for their part, are very critical, when they asked to target a target of -50% by 2030 and carbon neutrality by 2040. The agreement “unfortunately does not live up to expectations”regrets the Climate Action Network International, insisting on the “obvious disparity” with the objectives of the Paris Agreement. As such, the text is also judged “far below what is necessary” by the Clean Shipping Coalition, for which “the wording of the text is vague and non-binding”.