A trio could decarbonise almost all shipping without the IMO - T&E

While the US, China and Europe only account for 40% of global shipping emissions, 84% of ships call at one of their ports, Transport & Environment (T&E) says.

PHOTO: Aerial view of a deepwater port with cargo ships and containers in Shanghai. Getty Images

T&E states that together China, Europe, and the US can decarbonise 84% of the global shipping sector if they implement a zero-emission mandate for ships calling at their ports.“Not only would technical improvements on ships lead to emissions reduction throughout the world but zero-emission technology and fuels would also receive massive investments, reducing their costs throughout the world.”

Jacob Armstrong, sustainable shipping officer at T&E says, “With the vast majority of ships passing through Europe, China, and the US, these leading economies can unilaterally regulate emissions without relying on the ineffective IMO.”

When it comes to emissions per voyage, the European Union (EU) is responsible for 14.4% of emissions, China for 15.1%, and the US for 7.8%. Singapore comes in fourth with 7.19% emissions, while Japan rounds out the top five with 5.2%.

T&E recommends developed nations put in place a per-voyage monitoring regulation for shipping emissions and implement decarbonisation legislation on their share of shipping emissions – set to at least 50% of incoming and outgoing voyages.

It urges the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change to clarify its guidance to include international shipping under the Paris Agreement and instruct nations to report shipping emissions on a per-voyage basis.

To the IMO it suggests mandating a global phase-out date for shipping pollution once the global uptake of green technologies and fuels has reached over 60% of the fuel consumed.

By Konica Bhatt

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