The US succeeded in blocking a global levy on shipping emissions as an international maritime meeting was postponed on Friday without rules being adopted.
The world's major maritime powers have been discussing rules to steer the shipping industry away from fossil fuels. But US President Donald Trump, Saudi Arabia and other countries have vowed to fight any global tax on shipping emissions.
On Thursday, Trump urged countries to vote “no” on the rules. The International Maritime Organization adjourned its meeting on Friday.
THIS IS BREAKING NEWS. AP's earlier story appears below.
The world's biggest shipping nations debated rules on Friday that would shift the shipping industry away from fossil fuels to cut emissions, as U.S. President Donald Trump and others vowed to fight any global tax on shipping emissions.
On Thursday, US President Donald Trump posted on his social media platform Truth Social calling on countries to vote “no” and that “the United States will not support this new global green scam shipping tax.”
Representatives of the United States, Saudi Arabia, Russia and several other countries oppose the adoption of the rules in their current form. Friday's meetings got off to a tense start as they continued discussions on meeting procedures that began earlier in the week.
“My goal is to try to find a way for you to cooperate and move forward as usual, as we do,” said Arsenio Dominguez, secretary general of the International Maritime Organization. In a statement, Dominguez added that the way negotiations went this week should not happen again.
Leading shipping nations from around the world meet at the headquarters of the International Maritime Organization in London. If green shipping rules are adopted, it will be the first time a global fee has been imposed on planet-warming greenhouse gas emissions. Most ships today run on heavy fuel oil, which releases carbon dioxide and other pollutants when burned.
Emissions from shipping have risen over the past decade to about 3% of the global total as trade has grown and ships use huge amounts of fossil fuels to transport goods over long distances. In April, IMO member states agreed on the content of the regulatory framework with a view to adopting a “Net-Zero System” at this meeting in London.
“Attempts by the US and other countries to delay the adoption of the IMO Net-Zero Framework are an affront to multilateralism and fly in the face of the courage and ambition shown by member states in agreeing to it in April. Fortunately, this is not a foregone conclusion and countries can continue to demonstrate the spirit of solidarity they showed in April by voting to adopt the framework,” Emma said Fenton, senior director of climate diplomacy at the IMO. UK climate change non-profit Opportunity Green.
The regulations establish a marine fuel standard that, over time, reduces the amount of greenhouse gas emissions allowed from marine fuel. The rules also establish a pricing system that would charge a fee for every ton of greenhouse gases emitted by ships above permissible limits, effectively the first global tax on greenhouse gas emissions.
The IMO, which regulates international shipping, has set a target for the sector to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by around 2050 and has committed to ensuring greater use of zero- or near-zero-emission fuels.
Observers said it was unclear what decision would be made later today.
“By voting to adopt this framework, governments will make history by setting the first global price on carbon emissions and set a course to reduce shipping's global climate impact,” said John Maggs, Clean Shipping Coalition representative at the IMO. “However, failure to maintain the framework will be a missed opportunity and risks stalling IMO activities for many years to come.”
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