The International Maritime Organisation (IMO) has dodged a decision on the setting of a new global target for reducing greenhouse gas emissions from international shipping, proposed by the Marshall Islands.
The environmental lobby group Transport & Environment (T&E) accused the IMO of falling to "procedural excuses" and ignoring obligations.
The proposal was initially announced last month, with Marshall Islands' Minister of Foreign Affairs, Tony de Brum having said at the time that the industry could grow to represent 6 to 14 percent of global emissions if "urgent action" was not taken.
We present our proposal so that global shipping can be a climate leader. I call on my colleagues here today to join us. With wind in our sails on the road to Paris, we must step forward together to take decisive action for our planet’s future,” Brum said.
“Regrettably the IMO decided today that business as usual is more important than agreeing that international shipping must make its fair contribution to combating climate change,” T&E said in a comment.
T&E said that shipping emissions have increased by approximately 70% since 1990 and represented 2.7% of global CO2 emissions in 2012. Under current policies, the IMO’s 2014 GHG study forecasts shipping CO2 emissions to increase by 50% to 250% by 2050, which would then represent between 6% to 14% of total global emissions.
The chair of the UN shipping body’s Marine Environmental Protection Committee (MEPC) said in London that the IMO would address maritime emissions “at an appropriate future date”, without specifying when this would be.