Donald Trump puts a stop to the zero-emissions agreement for maritime transport

The United States has rejected the International Maritime Organization's (IMO) proposal for the so-called " Net-Zero Framework" which aims to reduce global greenhouse gas emissions from the international shipping sector and threatened sanctions against countries that support it.

The announcement was made jointly by Secretary of State Marco Rubio , Commerce Secretary Howard Latnick, Energy Secretary Chris Wright and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy . It is a move by US President Donald Trump that comes ahead of a vote scheduled for October at the UN on adopting a proposal for zero-emission shipping.

The move also comes as the Trump administration is using tariffs as a means of pressuring leaders of other countries, including China , India and Brazil , and as the US withdraws support for regulations aimed at curbing climate change , Reuters commented .

Donald Trump has said he is also withdrawing the United States from the Paris Climate Agreement, which set a goal for countries to achieve net zero emissions by 2050 .

“The Trump administration categorically rejects this proposal before the IMO and will not tolerate any action that increases costs for our citizens, energy providers, shipping companies and their customers, or tourists,” said the statement from top US ministers on the zero-emissions shipping framework.

"IMO members should know that we will seek their support against this action and will not hesitate to react or explore solutions for our citizens should this effort fail," it added.

The United States, one of the IMO's 176 member states, withdrew from IMO talks on the zero-emissions framework in April and urged the organization's other members to reconsider their support for it, according to a memo cited by Reuters.

The history

IMO member states agreed on the zero-emissions framework in April, following a simple majority vote. Of those who voted, 63 – including China, Brazil and EU countries – voted in favour, while only 16 voted against.

In October, the proposal would need a two-thirds majority – from 108 member states – to be approved . The IMO only resorts to a vote if there is no agreement on a regulation among those member states.

Ocean-crossing ships carry about 80% of the world's goods and account for almost 3% of global carbon emissions. The industry is under pressure from environmentalists and investors to take greater climate action, including adopting a carbon tax.

All of this had led many major ocean shipping companies to commit to zero net emissions by 2050. Several bodies representing shipping companies have supported the legislation, but have also called for specific measures to offset the higher cost of "green" fuels.

The World Shipping Council , which represents major companies, the world's largest container shipping company Maersk and the leading seaborne vehicle shipping company Wallenius Wilhelmsen , declined to immediately comment on the developments.

source: tanea.gr