Maersk Warns COP21 Deal Could Lead To Fragmented Regional Rules

by Ship & Bunker News Team
Thursday December 17, 2015

A.P. Moller-Maersk A/S (Maersk) has warned that a lack of cohesive industry action in the wake of last weekend's COP21 climate agreement - which failed to specifically address shipping emissions in the final text - could have major negative consequences in creating a patchwork of regional regulation, the Wall Street Journal reports.

"We are operating in a global industry that calls for a global solution," said John Kornerup Bang, chief advisor on climate change at A.P. Moller-Maersk A/S.

"The last thing we want to see is a series of regional regulations. The effects will not be level and they will not be effective because it is so easy in this business to move fleets around," continued Bang.

Bang pointed out that industry groups like International Maritime Organization (IMO) are the "right place" to forge new rules, but said that IMO's rule-making abilities are "stuck" due to the system of negotiations between member countries, according to the Journal.

Earlier this week, International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) echoed Bang's sentiment on the negatives of fragmented regulation, with Peter Hinchliffe, ICS Secretary General, saying such action "would be disastrous for shipping and disastrous for global CO2 reduction."

On Tuesday, Ship & Bunker reported on ICS' comments on the COP21 agreement that exclusion of direction mention of shipping from the accord was "probably preferable" as an outcome.

Ship & Bunker News Team
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