Global Shipping Walks the Plank – IMO Reaches Consensus but Falls Short on Ambition
LONDON : The International Maritime Organization (IMO) met this week to finalise measures for its greenhouse gas (GHG) strategy – yet ambition fell short. Marine NGO Seas At Risk expressed deep concern over the failure of IMO member states to uphold even the minimum target agreed just two years ago. Their first benchmark – cutting emissions by 20% by 2030 – looks increasingly out of reach.
The EU failed to back ambitious targets. Its reluctance, along with other member states, to support financial and structural backing to the path of decarbonisation has left climate-vulnerable countries in the lurch.
Central to the disappointment of the IMOs outcome was the polluters pay levy on shipping emissions. According to the IMO’s own science, the failure to implement a levy leaves most shipping emissions unaddressed and leaves a costly burden on countries least able to bear climate catastrophes.
Only 11-13% of annual shipping emissions are expected to fall under the IMO’s penalty mechanism on excess emissions. The proposed levy, projected to generate around $10 billion/year, falls short of what is needed to either scale up zero to near zero (ZNZ) emission fuels or fund a just and equitable transition (JET).
Anaïs Rios, Shipping Policy Officer, Seas At Risk said: “This week’s outcome misses even IMO’s baseline – leaving the 2030 decarbonisation target dead in the water, with potential disastrous long-term impacts for people and the planet. The EU may have drifted to the corner of low-ambition, but the absence of bold targets brought bold voices: the emergence of a strong, united voice from African, Caribbean and Pacific nations shows that the global south won’t wait for the north to get their act together”.
But where there is frustration, there is hope: in spite of a lack of ambition, strong voices from African, Caribbean and Pacific nations stood firm – demanding action, fairness and equity. And while outcomes may fall short of what the planet needs and demands, the fact that consensus was reached, is a signal that many nations are still willing to fight for climate ambition.
About Seas At Risk
Seas At Risk is an association of environmental organisations from across Europe, with the mission to promote ambitious policies for marine protection at European and international level. With over 30 members representing the majority of European countries, Seas At Risk speaks for millions of citizens that care deeply about the health and well-being of seas and oceans.