An international agreement has been reached to decarbonize the shipping sector

breakthrough “Important”According to some, text “Very weak”, according to others. The International Maritime Organization (IMO) issued an international agreement to decarbonise the heavily polluting shipping sector on Friday July 7, but it is less ambitious than hoped and has been heavily criticized by NGOs.

Convention highlights “An enhanced shared ambition to achieve carbon neutrality for international shipping by 2050”According to the International Maritime Organization which relies on the United Nations. In the short term, it aims to reduce carbon dioxide emissions “by at least 40% by 2030 compared to 2008”. The compromise provides for non-binding targets to reduce polluting emissions by at least 70% by 2040 compared to 2008.

France says “success”

The French Minister of State for Sea Affairs, Herve Berville, paid tribute to A “A big step (…) towards climate neutrality” before taking coercive measures. “We certainly sat at the negotiating table with stronger ambitions than the final agreement that was reached.”I confess, “But it was definitely a success.”.

The European Union was already calling, during negotiations this week at IMO headquarters in London, for a target of net-zero emissions reductions in 2050 with two intermediate stages: a reduction of 29% in 2030 and 83% in 2040. Pacific countries, particularly threatened by global warming, wanted to move forward, supported by the US, UK and Canada: -96% by 2040.

Carbon tax split

Conversely, many major exporters such as China, Brazil and Argentina backtracked, saying that too stringent targets would benefit rich countries at the expense of developing countries. They have notably opposed a carbon tax project, backed by Emmanuel Macron and companies such as shipping giant Maersk. The idea now only appears in the draft agreement in a set of proposed measures to reduce shipping emissions.

Environmental NGOs, for their part, are very critical, when they asked for a 50% target by 2030 and carbon neutrality by 2040. The agreement “Unfortunately it did not live up to expectations”The International Climate Action Network regrets, insisting on “clear disparity” with the objectives of the Paris Agreement. As such, the text is also judged “much less than necessary” By the Clean Shipping Alliance, for which The wording of the text is vague and non-binding..