At the Conference of the Parties to the Climate Change Convention in Dec 2008 (COP 14), IMO were mandated to find technical and operational solutions to reduce GHG from global shipping in line with the Kyoto Protocol principles.
However, there is considerable difficulty within the shipping sector (both governmental and industry) in agreeing the way forward:
- EU (except Greece) + Japan + Australia are all in favour of an ETS for shipping; UK Chamber of Shipping has just published their joint proposals.
- Developing countries + India + China + Panama are against any commitments at this stage.
- USA have remained silent thus far.
- Alternative proposal is for a fuel levy, eg to pool money into a fund to be managed by IMO for developing new low carbon technologies.
COP 15 meeting is due to be held in Copenhagen in Dec 2009 at which IMO will report on their proposals for inclusion into a new Protocol to replace Kyoto. The aviation sector have already agreed some proposed ways ahead and are a coherent industry with strong national regulating authorities who are in general agreement.
