An agreement to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from maritime freight, a highly polluting sector, has been reached by member countries of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), but it is considered disappointing by environmentalists.
« The 80e Marine Environment Protection Commission [MEPC] of the International Maritime Organization [OMI] adopts a greenhouse gas reduction strategy,” the IMO, a body that depends on the UN, tweeted on Friday.
She adds that the agreement shows the ambition to reduce CO2 emissions.2 “an average of at least 40% by 2030 compared to 2008”.
The text of the compromise, consulted by AFP, also provides for “indicative” (therefore non-binding) targets for reducing polluting emissions by at least 70% by 2040, with a target of at least 80%, compared to 2008.
Several NGOs consider the text disappointing compared to the objectives that were targeted by many countries before the meeting, and insufficient to put the sector on the trajectory of a reduction in CO2 emissions.2 under the 2015 Paris Agreement.
In 2018, the IMO gave carriers the objective of reducing their CO emissions2 by 50% in 2050 compared to 2008, which was widely considered insufficient.
The European Union was calling during negotiations this week at the IMO headquarters in London for a more ambitious goal of net zero emissions by 2050 with two intermediate stages: reduction of 29% in 2030 and 83% in 2040.
The Pacific Island States, particularly threatened by global warming, wanted to go further, supported by the United States, the United Kingdom and Canada: -96% by 2040.
“Deeply worried”
Environmental NGOs for their part demanded -50% by 2030 and carbon neutrality by 2040.
Conversely, many major exporters such as China, Brazil, Argentina, among others, have 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 French President Emmanuel Macron and by companies such as the giant of the maritime freight Maersk.
A possible tax now only appears in the draft agreement in a range of proposed measures to reduce freight emissions.
The vast majority of the 100,000 ships in the sector, which transport 90% of the world’s goods, are powered by heavy fuel oil. The sector is responsible for nearly 3% of CO emissions2 world, according to the UN.
The representative to the MEPC of the Marshall Islands, Albon Ishoda, judged according to the text of his speech at the end of the meetings received by AFP, that the new strategy for reducing greenhouse gases “keeps possible a limited global warming to 1.5 degrees, and commits the sector to a fair energy transition”.
“However, much work remains to ensure that global warming capped at 1.5 degrees […] becomes a reality,” he insists.
Environmental NGOs are more critical.
“The level of ambition of the agreement is far below what is necessary to keep global warming below 1.5 degrees, and the wording of the text is vague and non-binding”, deplores the NGO Clean Shipping Coalition.
“Representatives of civil society are deeply concerned that the IMO has failed to bring global maritime freight into line with the limit of 1.5 degrees of global temperature rise”, adds the NGO Ocean Campaigns.