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International Chamber of Shipping urges UN to head off local CO2 regulations
THE International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) urges the UN's International Maritime Organisation (IMO) to formulate carbon emission regulations itself before national and provincial governments create a chaotic worldwide regulatory hodgepodge.
"The IMO needs a baseline year for peak CO2 emissions from shipping, as well as setting out long-term aspirations for cutting the sector's total CO2 by the middle of the century," said ICS chairman Esben Poulsson.
Mr Poulsson feared the industry could be vulnerable to regional action, from the EU, Canada and California which are at various stages of adopting carbon pricing unless the IMO makes significant progress, reports London's Tanker Operator.
Speaking in Indonesia at The Economist newspaper's World Ocean Summit, Mr Poulsson: "We are confident IMO can adopt an ambitious strategy by 2018 matching the spirit of the Paris Agreement."
The IMO also needs to agree a mechanism for delivery, which ICS would like to see in place by 2023.
He said the industry prefers a bunker tax to an emissions trading scheme. Widespread availability of alternative fuels, such as hydrogen or fuel cells, is not expected for 20 or 30 years.
The ICS, the association of shipowners and operators representing 80 per cent of the commercial tonnage afloat, says world shipping has reduced CO2 by 10 per cent from 2007 and 2012, but dramatic reductions will be difficult to achieve until alternative marine fuels become widely available, given trade growth and populations increase.
"The IMO needs a baseline year for peak CO2 emissions from shipping, as well as setting out long-term aspirations for cutting the sector's total CO2 by the middle of the century," said ICS chairman Esben Poulsson.
Mr Poulsson feared the industry could be vulnerable to regional action, from the EU, Canada and California which are at various stages of adopting carbon pricing unless the IMO makes significant progress, reports London's Tanker Operator.
Speaking in Indonesia at The Economist newspaper's World Ocean Summit, Mr Poulsson: "We are confident IMO can adopt an ambitious strategy by 2018 matching the spirit of the Paris Agreement."
The IMO also needs to agree a mechanism for delivery, which ICS would like to see in place by 2023.
He said the industry prefers a bunker tax to an emissions trading scheme. Widespread availability of alternative fuels, such as hydrogen or fuel cells, is not expected for 20 or 30 years.
The ICS, the association of shipowners and operators representing 80 per cent of the commercial tonnage afloat, says world shipping has reduced CO2 by 10 per cent from 2007 and 2012, but dramatic reductions will be difficult to achieve until alternative marine fuels become widely available, given trade growth and populations increase.
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