The International Maritime Organization (IMO) failed to reach an agreement on proposals to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the global shipping industry. The marine environment protection committee of the Organization (which is a United Nations body) concluded a meeting Friday in London without making any significant progress on the critical issue.
The global shipping sector accounts for nearly 3% of global carbon dioxide emissions.
Numerous proposals for reducing global warming pollution from ships were presented at the meeting, but agreement was stalled by objections from developing countries including China, India, Saudi Arabia and South Africa. IMO decisions are generally made by consensus.
The U.S. presented a proposal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by requiring mandatory energy efficiency standards for ships and allowing trading of efficiency credits as a means to ensure compliance.
Nine other proposals for market-based measures for reducing greenhouse gas emissions also were discussed, including a greenhouse gas fund established by the purchase of emissions reductions credits, a port state levy on emissions, and a global emissions trading scheme (cap and trade) for international shipping.
These measures were opposed by developing countries on the grounds that mandatory sector-wide measures to reduce greenhouse gases from ships would run counter to the principle of common but differentiated responsibility that is central to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. The developing countries are also concerned that their economies would be disproportionately impacted by such measures.
The non-profit, environmental law firm Earthjustice called on the
U.S. government to unilaterally strengthen regulations governing climate
change pollution from ships.
Sarah Burt, an attorney with the international program of Earthjustice, attended the IMO meeting in London.
“Global
warming is a global problem, to which a global solution would be ideal.
But the United States should not wait for strong mandatory requirements
by the IMO when that body seems unable to act," Burt said. "Rather, we
should push forward with domestic regulations that address a significant
portion of the greenhouse gas emissions at issue. If the other nations
object to the United States’ domestic action, we should challenge them
to catch up to and surpass us in addressing this problem. Once they’ve
done so, our regulations may no longer be necessary. But until then,
domestic regulation is the best tool we’ve got.“
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