The shipping industry is on the brink of a critical moment in the battle against greenhouse gas emissions. Experts have warned that emissions from the sector could increase by as much as 50% by the mid-21st century if stronger action is not taken.
The Urgent Need for Ambitious Targets
The industry’s current plans fall short of aligning with the Paris climate agreement, as they only aim to halve emissions by the middle of the century. This week, representatives from 175 shipping countries will convene in London under the United Nations’ International Maritime Organization (IMO) to negotiate a new timeline for achieving complete decarbonization.
Campaigners are calling for more ambitious targets, advocating for a reduction of approximately 50% by 2030 and a net-zero emissions goal for 2050. Some even push for full decarbonization by 2040.
“If member states get this right, they can steer the shipping sector toward meeting the temperature targets of the Paris Agreement and encourage investment in green technologies that will revolutionize the industry,” stated Kerrlene Wills, Director for Ocean and Climate at the UN Climate Foundation.
Achieving Consensus for Climate Action
While many countries and some shipping companies, such as Maersk, the world’s second-largest container shipping line, support more ambitious targets, previous attempts to strengthen climate ambition at the IMO have faced opposition from countries like China, India, and Saudi Arabia, who seek to protect their domestic shipping interests.
If the London meeting can reach an agreement on these new goals for the entire shipping industry, it would be a significant step forward in the fight against climate change, comparable to the impact of the Paris Agreement itself.
“It would truly be a climate agreement not just of the year but probably of the decade,” commented John Maggs, representative of the Clean Shipping Coalition of campaigners.
The Challenges and Costs of Reform
While there is recognition within the industry of the need for reform, concerns remain regarding the feasibility and cost of meeting new targets. However, recent research indicates that cutting shipping emissions by half in this decade would only result in a modest increase of around 10% in operational costs.
Kitack Lim, Secretary-General of the IMO, has urged delegates at the meeting to find compromises and solutions, emphasizing the importance of decisive climate action in 2023. Faig Abbasov from the campaign group Transport and Environment echoes this sentiment, stating that waiting until 2050 to decarbonize is akin to waiting for a house to burn before calling the fire brigade, emphasizing the need for political will and bold action from the IMO.
