(Dubai) Five of the world’s largest maritime carriers as well as France, South Korea and Denmark adopted a joint declaration on Friday at COP28 in Dubai to promote the adoption of “a robust regulatory framework” for by 2027 promoting the ecological transition of the sector.
The signatories promise to work towards the establishment of “an international standard” to precisely measure emissions from the sector, it is written in the declaration.
They also undertake to promote “an international greenhouse gas pricing mechanism”, the equivalent of a carbon tax, “to encourage energy efficiency and reduce the price gap between fossil fuels and sustainable maritime fuels”.
The signatory carriers – the Italian-Swiss MSC, the Danish Maersk, the French CMA CGM, the German Hapag-Lloyd and the Korean HMM – have also committed to reducing their emissions beyond the objectives set by the Maritime Organization international (IMO) at the beginning of July.
Such a coalition, bringing together all of the world’s largest carriers, with the exception of the Chinese Cosco, is unprecedented.
They promise to “reduce total emissions by 30% [de leur flotte] by 2030 compared to 2008” against 20% requested by the IMO. By 2040, the objective is increased to -80% of emissions compared to -70% according to IMO standards. A reduction in net emissions to zero must be achieved “by 2050 at the latest”.
Standard for new ships
The coalition also defends the implementation of “construction standards for new ships”. Carriers are considering agreeing on a date beyond which it would be mandatory for all new ships to be powered by zero or near-zero emissions fuel. Currently, nearly 99% of the world’s fleet is powered by heavy fuel oil.
“We want to put an end to the delivery of ships running solely on fossil fuels,” insisted Soren Toft, boss of the world’s leading carrier, MSC.
The signatory States undertake, in addition to establishing “level playing field” internationally, to “accelerate the production and supply of sustainable maritime fuels in sufficient quantities”.
Maritime transport represents 3% of global greenhouse gas emissions and transports more than 80% of goods traded worldwide. According to the UN, the transition of the sector, whose emissions have jumped by 20% in a decade, could cost around 100 billion US dollars per year.