ICS: Shipping's Own Emissions Reduction Goals "Far More Ambitious" than Current Government Targets

ICS says IMO CO2 reduction efforts and shipping industry fuel efficiency measures will deliver greater reductions than government targets.

The International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) Tuesday said that "aggressive" fuel efficiency efforts being implemented by the global shipping industry, coupled with CO2 reduction measures by the International Maritime Organization (IMO), are capable of delivering "far more ambitious" reductions in CO2 emissions than current government targets.

The comments come following the publication of a United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) report detailing the potential impact of reduction pledges made by 146 nations ahead of COP 21, which is set to kick off in Paris next week.

ICS notes that the report shows that combined government reduction targets should reduce CO2 emissions by an estimated 5 percent per capita in 2030 compared to 2010 levels, while shipping is committed to reducing CO2 per tonne-km by at least 50 percent before 2050 and "has already reduced its total CO2 emissions by more than 10 percent (2007- 2012) despite continuing growth in maritime trade."

ICS' comments are also said to come in response to recent concerns voiced by the Sustainable Shipping Initiative (SSI) that shipping industry efforts to reduce emissions are not sufficient to achieve the 2 degree goal.

"This misunderstands the approach already agreed at the UN negotiations regarding the obligations of different sectors of the global economy," said ICS of the SSI comments.

Further, ICS argues that higher targets for CO2 reduction than those to which industry has already committed is not aligned with UN sustainable development goals, nor would it be conducive to improved standards of living alongside global population growth.

"Recognising the industry’s global structure and its critical contribution to their future prosperity, most nations at UNFCCC are not demanding the same CO2 cuts by shipping that have been pledged by advanced economies such as EU Member States," concluded ICS.

On Tuesday, Ship & Bunker reported that Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) Seas At Risk, Transport & Environment (T&E) and the Marine Conservation Society say that a new report released by the European Parliament (EP) demonstrates the need for delegates attending COP 21 to agree that a global emissions cap for shipping should be set.