London: The International Maritime Organization, overseer of the highly-polluting shipping industry, on Friday, sealed a landmark deal to improve its target to cut carbon emissions, but green campaigners from the non-governmental organization said it fell far short.
Compared with 2008 levels, the United Nations’ global shipping regulator agreed to bring down total annual emissions of greenhouse gases “by at least 20 percent with a target of 30 percent, by 2030” and by 70 to 80 percent by 2040, according to the agreement.
The ultimate target of a 50-percent reduction is on cards by 2050, as agreed in 2008.
The International Maritime Organization described the deal as “historic”. It maintained that the organization remained committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions from international shipping and aimed to phase them out on immediate grounds.
Officials from the IMO further said that the “carbon intensity” of ships was expected to go down over time with “further improvement of energy efficiency” of new vessels.
Approximately, Shipping emits the same level of greenhouse gases as aviation, which is aiming for net zero by 2050.
The landmark deal was signed at the end of a five-day meeting at the IMO’s headquarters in London, attended by representatives from 100 countries.
Reduction in Carbon Emission Urged
The gathering of its Marine Environment Protection Commission pitted climate-vulnerable nations — particularly islands in the Pacific — and richer countries against big exporters like China.
The vast majority of the world’s 100,000 cargo ships — which carry 90 percent of the world’s goods — are powered by highly-polluting diesel.
Shipping is responsible for around three percent of global greenhouse gas emissions, according to the United Nations.
