COP26: Countries build green corridors without the IMO
Shipowners’ club the International Chamber of Shipping and seafarers’ union the International Transport Workers’ Federation announced the Just Transition Maritime Taskforce, an initiative to upskill crews for the advent of future fuels.
Seafarers had to be assured they would have jobs in a zero-carbon future and shipping must not forget its workforce as it faces the challenges ahead, the two groups warned.
Almost 20 governments agreed to launch six “green shipping corridors” — deepsea shipping routes catering to zero-carbon ships — by the middle of the decade, in a sign countries are looking for ways to lower emissions before a global regulation is set.
ICS’ proposal for a $5bn green research and development fund, which faces crunch talks at the International Maritime Organization from November 22, got a boost when the Green Climate Fund, part of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, offered a “potential” $1.5m to help get it off the ground if the IMO approves it.
The GCF said the money would ensure developing economies could access green technologies, in what could be a bid to head off political resistance from those countries at the upcoming Marine Environment Protection Committee.
Argentina’s IMO representative gave a hint of that resistance on Wednesday, saying: “Maybe it would not be fair to put a lot of hope in raising revenues for both R&D and compensating all developing countries that are going to lose out.”
Developing countries like Argentina have opposed market-based measures, such as carbon taxes and emissions trading schemes, arguing the costs are unfair for poorer countries that bear less blame for climate change.
The R&D fund, a net-zero-by-2050 target, and a proposal by Norway for a fuel mandate — seen in some quarters as a more politically palatable alternative to a carbon tax — are all on the agenda at MEPC.
The ICS launched a marketing blitz for the R&D fund, saying shipping needs it to rectify its paltry R&D spending. Shipping heads presented a mostly united front on decarbonisation at its industry conference on Saturday, despite divisions over LNG and the role of government.
Meanwhile, CMA CGM has agreed with French energy company Engie to make synthetic and bio liquefied natural gas fuel — a carbon-neural alternative to the fossil sort if made with renewable power.
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