UN To Investigate Rules On Shipping Emissions
July 22nd, 2009
The UN is discussing rules to cut rising emission of greenhouse gas from shipping. The International Maritime Organisation’s (IMO) Environment Committee is drawing up recommendations for design standards to make ships more efficient. It includes working on operating standards so that ships save fuel. Shipping now accounts for more than 3% of annual global emissions, but, like aviation, it has no controls on its greenhouse gas output.
With international emissions from ships rising 85% since 1990, there’s a will to include the industry in the global deal on climate change at the UN’s climate summit in Copenhagen, Denmark, in December. The IMO Environment Committee hopes to draw up recommendations on mandatory improvements in ship design. It also aims to frame rules on the way ships are operated, getting them to sail more slowly or more directly, for instance. Observers of the shipping industry’s record on protecting the environment may not be optimistic about getting any significant change.
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