Civil society groups are urgently calling on the member states of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) to support aggressive measures to reduce climate pollution from ships. The groups are pushing for a halving of emissions by 2030 and complete decarbonization by 2040. These demands will be presented at the upcoming Intersessional Working Group on Greenhouse Gases at the IMO.
The groups argue that considering the disproportionate impacts of climate change on vulnerable and developing states, the transition to zero emissions must be fair and equitable. While many governments have previously agreed to a long-term target of zero emissions by 2050, this alone is insufficient to meet the Paris Agreement’s goal of limiting global temperature rise to 1.5°C.
On the other hand, climate scientists have repeatedly emphasized the need for immediate and significant emission reductions across industries to avoid surpassing the 1.5°C threshold. Achieving ambitious targets for 2030 and 2040 is crucial in shaping future climate policies within the IMO. These targets include addressing short-term pollutants like methane and black carbon, implementing mandatory slow-steaming, establishing a carbon levy of at least $100/tonne of greenhouse gas, and setting a fuel greenhouse gas standard. The targets are aimed to support the two pillars of the decarbonization of shipping; the technical and the economical, which is bound to support developing nations, according to Kitack Lim, IMO Secretary General.
Representatives from various organizations emphasized the urgency of the situation. John Maggs from the Clean Shipping Coalition stressed the need for the IMO to set clear and decisive targets to limit shipping emissions within the Paris Agreement limits. Lucy Gilliam from Seas At Risk highlighted the potential economic opportunities and climate finance that can be unlocked by setting strong climate targets. Faig Abbasov from Transport & Environment emphasized that substantial emission reductions must be achieved in this decade and complete decarbonization by 2040, underscoring the necessity for the EU and IMO to adopt a compatible decarbonization pathway for shipping.
Overall, these civil society groups are calling for immediate and ambitious action to address the climate crisis in the shipping industry, as it is a crucial step toward a sustainable and livable future.
Source: Safety4Sea, WMU@40 Conference on Sustanability
