They raise ship fees to pay the ‘climate bill’

Expectations are growing from the taxation of maritime transport, a measure expected to pay the “climate bill” and with which it will be resolved International Maritime Organization (IMO) at a meeting next week, where countries will also be able to set targets for the decarbonisation of this industry, responsible for 2.9% of global greenhouse gas emissions.

However, experts see the proposal, which calls for a tax starting at $100 per tonne of CO2, has attracted much more political attention following a proposal, initiated by small island states, that the measure be used to finance a loss and damage fund that countries have agreed to create on climate change. the UN summit in Sharm El Sheikh (COP27)last December.

He the world bank estimates that a carbon tax on maritime transport could raise between $50 billion and $60 billion a year, an amount that would be used to mitigate the impact of the climate crisis in the most vulnerable countries, for which rich nations – most responsible for warming – have pledged to help and are looking for new ways to raise funds .

The measure is gaining increasing support: at a summit hosted by Paris this month, promoted by French President Emmanuel Macron and Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley, to agree a new global financial pact, more than 20 countries have shown in favor of a tax on maritime transport, the presidency reported.

The presidency called Denmark, Norway, Cyprus, Spain, Slovenia, Monaco, Georgia, Vanuatu, South Korea, Greece, Vietnam, Lithuania, Barbados, Marshall Islands, Solomon Islands, Ireland, Mauritius, Kenya, Netherlands, Portugal, New Zealand and the European Commission.

The maritime transport sector, despite its responsibility in the climate crisis (its emissions even exceed those of international aviation), has traditionally been exempt from paying polluters in frameworks such as the European emissions market, until the recent reform of this regime, included in the climate package “Fit for 55”, decided to force the ships to acquire these permits.

Therefore, starting next year, ships traveling between European ports must pay for all the CO2 they emit, and those that do so between EU ports and ports in other countries must bear the cost of the CO2 emitted in half of the journey.

With this precedent, there are experts who hope that at a meeting that will bring together IMO members between July 3 and 7 in London, countries will agree on a global carbon tax on ships, as well as increase their emission reduction targets for 2050. .and set one for 2030.

Currently, the IMO aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from ships by 50% by mid-century, a goal “that is inconsistent with the Paris Agreement, which calls for reaching carbon neutrality as soon as possible.” They remember from the ocean – environmental non-governmental organization Ocean Care.

Expert for Ocean Care Carlos Bravo believes that this year could be crucial for progress in this direction and claims that, along with the reform of the European market, a global agreement on biodiversity would be agreed last December at COP15 in Montreal, followed by the approval in March of the so-called – the so-called Altamar Treaty, which has just been adopted by the UN, will have a positive impact on the negotiations.