ECSA and ICS Call on China-EU Cooperation on Shipping Emissions

by Ship & Bunker News Team
Wednesday June 7, 2017

In the wake of the U.S. withdrawal from the Paris Climate Agreement, the European Community Shipowners' Associations (ECSA) and the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) today issued a statement urging the European Union (EU) and China to intensify cooperation to achieve a global climate deal for shipping.

The comments come after EU and Chinese leaders reaffirmed their commitment to implementing the Paris Agreement on climate change last week at the 19th EU-China Summit in Brussels.

"The withdrawal of the United States from the Paris Climate Agreement should not jeopardise an ambitious global strategy to reduce the CO2 emissions of shipping," said ECSA Secretary General Patrick Verhoeven.

"We are therefore pleased that the EU and China appear to be working towards reinforced co-operation on delivering a climate agreement for shipping at the International Maritime Organization (IMO)."

As Ship & Bunker has reported, discussions on the IMO greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction strategy are set to take place at the Marine Environment Protection Committee's upcoming 71st session (MEPC 71).

"We call upon the EU and China, and indeed all IMO Member States, to support the industry proposals," said ICS Secretary General Peter Hinchliffe.

"The priority of governments should be to focus on the development of alternative, fossil-free fuels and IMO should assess whether holding CO2 below 2008 levels can be achieved with technical and operational measures alone."

Ship & Bunker News Team
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