IMO to discuss shipping carbon emissions cuts

2500, 07/03/08

The International maritime organisation (IMO) is to discuss binding measures to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from international shipping. In early April the body's marine environment protection committee will explore a range of options for tackling the issue.

The committee is also expected to adopt stricter limits on emissions of sulphur oxide (SOx) and nitrogen oxide (NOx) from shipping. The new air pollution rules should then be rubber-stamped by the IMO in October (EED 11/02/08 http://www.endseuropedaily.com/24812).

The April discussions on possible global regulatory mechanisms for cutting shipping carbon emissions are important because the IMO is under pressure to come forward with concrete proposals in this area (EED 17/10/07 http://www.endseuropedaily.com/24101).

The EU executive says it will soon propose fresh legislation to include shipping in Europe's emission trading scheme unless the body takes action at global level (EED 26/02/08 http://www.endseuropedaily.com/24922).

European countries including Norway hope that a global agreement on carbon emissions could be reached by mid-2009. Terje Gloersen of Norwegian shipowners' association NSA says the IMO has been slow on the uptake but is now working "full speed" towards a solution.

Measures to be explored by the IMO's marine environment protection committee include the introduction of a global cap-and-trade scheme for the sector. The Norwegian association supports this. But such a scheme might be difficult to agree, Mr Gloersen stresses.

Another option would be to adopt a global carbon tax on shipping fuels, he says. Revenues from such a tax could be used to finance emission reduction initiatives in other sectors and measures to adapt to climate change. Details of options explored by the committee will be given after the meeting in April.

"There is willingness from the IMO to push this issue forward as quickly as possible", said a spokesperson. But the body would prefer to wait until completion of a major study updating shipping emission data in 2009 before negotiations can take place, she said.

Follow-up: Norwegian shipowners' association http://www.rederi.no/default.asp?V_ITEM_ID=881

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