Momentum has continued to grow behind calls to decarbonise global shipping, as several large emerging economies joined rich nations and climate vulnerable Pacific islands in backing a strong goal at the UN’s shipping body in London last week and Campaign group Seas at Risk said there is now a clear majority in favour, an indication that there is a good chance of getting the target agreed at the next meeting in June 2023.
Shipping is responsible for around 3% of global emissions with its share expected to grow under the industry’s target to halve emissions from 2008 levels by 2050, as sectors like electricity generation clean up faster.
Nigeria, Chile and Vietnam were among the countries calling for a net zero or zero carbon goal at the International Maritime Organization’s environmental committee meeting.
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Like international air travel, international shipping is not mentioned in the Paris Agreement and is not covered by most countries’ climate plans.
According to the Seas at Risk campaign, 32 countries spoke in favour of net zero or zero-carbon and 10 spoke against, meaning there is a “dwindling opposition” as, at the last meeting in May 2022, 24 countries were opposed.
Developed countries like the USA and most of Europe and several island nations that are threatened by sea level rise like the Maldives and Marshall Islands supported zero carbon.
“We are the world’s most climate vulnerable state and we are calling for a 1.5[C]-aligned policy. We are among the many, many that will be sacrificed as collateral damage in this emergency which we have neither asked for or caused,” Marshall Islands negotiator Albon Ishoda, was quoted to have said.
He added that an 80% reduction by 2040 and zero emissions by 2050 were “the limits science is telling us are the minimum needed to keep a 1.5 agenda on the timetable. All the science and the progressive industry are telling us this is technically achievable and feasible.”
However, large emerging economies like China, Argentina and the United Arab Emirates warned against adopting the target as there are fears it could increase shipping costs and distort trade, particularly for developing countries. These costs would likely be passed on to consumers, they said.
The 2050 target could be to emit zero greenhouse gases or to emit net zero greenhouse gases. Net zero means that gases could be emitted but would have to be made up for by carbon offsets. Most countries preferred absolute zero.
Other topics for debate at June’s environmental committee meeting include interim targets for 2030 and 2040, and whether and how to impose a carbon price on ship emissions.
Story was adapted from Climate Home News.
