The United States has withdrawn from the talks in London to advance the decarbonization in the shipping sector, and Washington will consider “mutual measures” to compensate for all fees for US ships, according to a diplomatic note.
This week, the delegates are in the headquarters of the UN shipping authority for negotiations on decarbonization measures that aim to achieve the global shipping industry by “around 2050”.
A first proposal of a block of countries, including the European Union, which was presented to the United Nations International Maritime Organization (IMO), was requested to achieve an agreement on the world’s first carbon tax for the shipping for greenhouse gas emissions (THG).
“The United States rejects all efforts to impose economic measures against its ships based on greenhouse gas emissions or the selection of the driving lens”
“For these reasons, the United States does not take part in IMO 83. Marine Environment Protection Committee from April 7th to 11th and calls on its government to rethink its support for the greenhouse gas emissions under consideration.”
It was not clear how many of the 176-strong countries of the IMO received the note.
“If such an unfair measure is proceeding, our government will take mutual measures into account to compensate for the fees accused of US ships and to compensate the American people for all other economic damage due to all the GHG emission measures adopted,” says the note from Washington.
Washington also rejected “every proposed measure that finance all the unused environment or other projects outside the shipping sector,” added the note.
Shipping is the basis of the global economy, but sailed under the radar for years to maintain its huge CO2 footprint. CBC Chris Brown travels to Denmark to learn more about efforts to bring the industry into a sustainable future.
US officials in Washington did not comment immediately when they were contacted late Tuesday.
The IMO had not yet received any communication, said an IMO spokesman on Wednesday.
Shipping, which transports around 90 percent of the world trade and is almost three percent of carbon dioxide emissions in the world, was confronted with calls by environmentalists and investors in order to deliver more specific measures, including carbon levy.
The IMO discussions continued on Wednesday despite the moving of the United States, the delegates involved said.
“The United States is one of 176 IMO member states. While their effects on this process are considerable, we cannot afford to blow off a pumpkin from a nation of all of us,” said Albon Ishoda, Marshall Islands Special for Maritime Decarbonization.
“During this time of instability in the markets, a clear direction from this IMO meeting is more necessary than ever. We will continue to negotiate with those who are ready to speak,” said Ishoda.
China and Brazil are part of a number of countries that oppose a flat carbon levy for shipping because they argued that it would punish the trade in the emerging countries of trade.
In January, US President Donald Trump ordered the United States to withdraw from the Paris climate agreement for the second time, and provided the world’s leading historical emitter of greenhouse gas outside the global pact that aims to combat the nations to combat climate change.
