The United States successfully prevented the implementation of a global fee on shipping emissions as an international maritime conference concluded on Friday without enacting any regulations. The discussion among major maritime nations focused on transitioning the shipping industry away from fossil fuels to reduce emissions. Notably, U.S. President Donald Trump, alongside Saudi Arabia and other nations, opposed any global taxation on shipping emissions.
During the meeting at the International Maritime Organization (IMO) headquarters in London, Trump urged countries to reject the proposal, labeling it a “global green new scam tax on shipping.” The IMO, a United Nations agency overseeing international shipping, faced a call from Saudi Arabia to adjourn the meeting for a year, which garnered support from more than half of the participating countries.
Ralph Regenvanu, the climate change minister of Vanuatu, expressed dismay over the decision, emphasizing the pressing need to address climate change urgency. If the green shipping regulations had been adopted, it would have marked the first instance of a global fee being imposed on greenhouse gas emissions from shipping vessels. The delay in implementing these regulations has left the industry in a state of uncertainty.
Shipping emissions have steadily increased over the past decade, accounting for about three percent of the global total emissions due to the growing trade volume and heavy fuel oil consumption by vessels. Earlier this year, IMO member states had agreed on a regulatory framework with the aim of adopting the “Net-Zero Framework” during the London meeting.
The postponed decision risks undermining the collaborative efforts aimed at achieving global climate goals. The regulations were intended to showcase the effectiveness of multilateral cooperation in advancing climate objectives. It is now imperative for countries to regroup and demonstrate stronger support for these measures to combat climate change effectively.
