COP26 puts pressure on the maritime sector to zero emissions by 2050

Global talks on how to make maritime transport cleaner began on Monday, November 22, amid growing pressure to cut pollution generated by the sector.

The International Maritime Organization (IMO) “is under pressure to do something,” said Edmund Hughes, former head of greenhouse gas emissions at the United Nations (UN) body that regulates world shipping and is the host of the virtual negotiations. “It will be difficult if the week doesn’t produce any substantial results.”

After COP26 (the UN climate summit which ended on November 14), the IMO leadership has the challenge of leading its 175 member countries to carry out cleaner maritime transport. The sector, which transports more than 80% of products traded internationally, has a larger carbon footprint than Germany and the Netherlands combined.

Perhaps the most significant proposal to be discussed comes from the three Pacific Island countries, which are urging the IMO to recognize that international shipping needs to achieve zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. If passed, the resolution will not be binding, said Hughes, but it will send a clear message about the organization’s direction.

The official target of the IMO – to be reassessed in 2023 – is a cut of just 50% by 2050. This is far from the reduction needed to bring maritime transport into line with the Paris Agreement targets aimed at limiting global warming, according to the International Clean Transport Council. The UN secretary-general also vigorously criticized the current level of ambition.

Source: Valor Econômico

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https://valor.globo.com/mundo/noticia/2021/11/22/cop26-eleva-pressao-para-setor-maritimo-zerar-emissoes-ate-2050.ghtml

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