Europe, China, and the US could decarbonize 84% of freight emissions without ‘ineffective’ IMO

The pressure is building on the IMO (International Maritime Organization) to bring out stricter green targets as the Maritime Environment Protection Committee is approaching soon. Based on the new study from Brussels-based NGO, Transport and Environment it is suggested that Europe, China, and the US could decarbonize 84% of all the shipping emissions globally without the use of ineffective IMO as most of the shipping traffic crosses through these three countries. If they are diligent enough to regulate ships that are anchored at their ports in a way that the European Union plans with its emissions trading scheme, then they could decarbonize a major part of shipping.

Jacob Armstrong, Sustainable Shipping Officer at the Transport and Environment states that till now the efforts to decarbonize shipping at the IMP have been not up to the mark even though it can be done easily. With the majority of ships crossing through China, the US, and Europe these leading economies can individually regulate emissions without depending on the ineffective IMO. Even though China, Europe, and the US account for 40% of shipping emissions, the majority of ships anchor at one of their ports.

Member states at IMO’s sister body at the United Nations, the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), voted last month to approve a collective long-term global aspirational goal (LTAG) of net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, something that is far ahead of IMO’s present demands which demands emission cuts of 50% against 2008 baseline.