Trump torpedoes international deal to reduce shipping emissions

After President Donald Trump threatened to impose sanctions on nations that supported the plan, members of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) voted to postpone a vote to support it.

Even though members of the London-based IMO, a United Nations body, had already approved the Net Zero Framework (NZF) in April, the vote on Friday delayed plans to regulate the shipping industry’s contributions to climate change by at least 12 months.

The International Maritime Organization is voting in London this week to pass a global carbon tax, which was President Trump’s decision to officially delay adoption until late in the year.

He warned nations to vote against the proposed Global Green New Scam Tax and warned that “the United States will NOT support it”.

Additionally, Washington threatened to impose sanctions, restrictions on visas, and port charges on nations that supported the agreement.

About 63 IMO members who had voted for the plan in April were expected to continue supporting emissions reductions ahead of the meeting in London, and others were expected to join the initiative to officially approve the framework.

Delegates in London instead voted on a hastily put resolution to postpone the proceeding following Trump’s social media threat, which received 57 to 49 votes.

The IMO, which consists of 176 member nations, is responsible for ensuring international shipping’s safety and security and preventing high-sea pollution.

Trump has focused on changing Washington’s position on climate change since taking office in January, deregulating fossil fuel use, reducing funding for clean energy projects, and promising businesses to “drill, baby drill”

A chance gone by

The decisions on Friday were “a missed opportunity for member states to place the shipping sector on a clear, credible path to net zero emissions,” according to UN spokesman Antonio Guterres.

More than 80% of the world’s fleet, or the International Chamber of Shipping, expressed disappointment as well.

Secretary-General of the Chamber, Thomas Kazakos, stated in a statement that “industrie needs clarity to be able to make the investments necessary to decarbonize the maritime sector.”

Still deeply committed, but disappointed! https://t.co/7P192kAvCx

The decision to postpone the vote by 12 months was “unacceptable given the urgency we face in light of accelerating climate change,” according to Vanuatu’s climate change minister Ralph Regenvanu.

However, Regenvanu continued, “We know that we have international law on our side and that we will fight for our people and the planet.”

China, Brazil, Brazil, Britain, and several other IMO members had reiterated their support before Friday’s decision.

Russia and Saudi Arabia were two of the nations who opposed the measures.

After discussions had lasted into the early hours of Friday, a Russian delegate addressed the plenary as “chaos.”

Among the nations that voted to postpone its introduction this week were Argentina and Singapore, two of which had previously voted in favor of the framework in April.

The Net Zero Framework (NZF) would have been the first global carbon-pricing system, giving ships a $ 380 per metric tonne on every extra tonne of CO2-equivalent they emit while rewarding vessels that use alternatives to reduce their emissions.

The IMO’s goal of reducing net emissions from international shipping by 20% by 2030 and by 2050 is outlined in the framework plan.

Shipping and the safety of seafarers are already being affected by climate change, including by altering ocean currents and increasing storm frequency.

Source: Aljazeera