Analysis: Reducing carbon emissions: is the shipping sector prepared?

Analysis: Reducing carbon emissions: is the shipping sector prepared?
Joe Baker 18 June 2018

The International Maritime Organization has pledged to reduce carbon emissions from shipping by at least 50% by 2050. But is this goal ambitious enough, or will the sector still struggle to achieve it?

Ever since countries first pledged to take charge of their carbon footprints as part of 1997’s Kyoto Protocol, the shipping sector has come under increasing scrutiny for its failure to respond to the climate change challenge.

Environmental groups bristled when shipping was omitted from 2015’s Paris Agreement, under which participating countries pledged to limit the global average rise in temperature to ‘well below’ 2°C from 2020. Maritime transport is currently responsible for 2.5% of global emissions, but (if nothing changes) an increase in global trade means this is set to grow by up to 250% by 2050.

But the increase in pressure finally paid off in April, when the International Maritime Organization (IMO) revealed its initial strategy for cutting the industry’s carbon output. IMO member states pledged to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from shipping by at least 50% by the middle of the century, compared to 2008 levels. Based on figures from the same year, the strategy also proposes an objective to reduce average carbon intensity from shipping – the amount of CO2 emitted for each unit of transport – by at least 40% by 2030, and 70% by 2050.

International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) Secretary General Peter Hinchcliffe called the strategy “a Paris Agreement for shipping” that “sets a very high level of ambition for the future reduction of CO2 emissions”. Leading shipping organisation BIMCO also sang its praises, claiming “the strategy shows that there is only one road ahead, and that is the road towards decarbonisation”.

After years of dragging its heels on climate change, the shipping sector finally has a starting point for cutting carbon emissions. The question now is will it be enough?
Is the goal ambitious enough?

Many commentators have said that while the strategy represents a good start, the wording of ‘at least 50%’ will be important, as this target will ultimately need to be scaled up for the industry to align itself fully with Paris Agreement goals. Environmental organisations have claimed that the reduction target for this alignment should be between 70%-100% – similar to what has already been called for by the European Union and Pacific states.

more...https://www.ship-technology.com/features/reducing-carbon-emissions-shipp...