The international maritime organization is meeting this week in London with the aim of reducing carbon emissions from merchant shipping. The sector emits almost as many greenhouse gases as the aviation sector.
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IIt is true that when we think of polluting long-distance transport, the plane comes to mind first, but 90% of the goods consumed in the world are transported by sea, in container ships. This volume of goods transported has increased by 250% in 40 years, yet the vast majority of the 100,000 freight ships are powered by heavy fuel oil. This means that maritime transport is responsible for 3% of greenhouse gas emissions in the world, cis actually almost as much as the air sector. VSIt is also as many CO2 emissions as those produced by Japan or Germany, for example.
Among the technical solutions to disrupt the sector, we find, as in the air sector, the search (for freight ships) for less polluting alternative fuels, progress in the design of boats, the reduction of their mass or the improving their propulsion. Five years ago, the International Maritime Organization gave carriers a CO2 emission reduction target of 50% by 2050, but this target is now considered insufficient.
Funds raised could help the most vulnerable countries adapt
45 countries including the 27 of the European Union are now in favor of an objective of carbon neutrality for the merchant navy in 2050. With, possibly, the establishment of a tax for the sector (the European Commission and more than 20 countries gave their support to this idea at the Paris summit a few days ago). IMaritime transport in fact escapes so far to taxation because the high seas are not within the jurisdiction of governments. Ihe funds raised could help the most vulnerable countries adapt to climate change and rising sea levels.
OWe also know that the impact of maritime transport does not stop at climate change. IMaritime traffic also contributes to the acidification of the oceans, it generates chemical, biological and noise pollution (since the 1970s, studies show that underwater noise doubles every 10 years and can interfere with cetacean communication). These are all topics on the menu of discussions in London this week.