Vote on implementation of the framework aimed at moving shipping industry away from fossil fuel has been postponed for a year amid U.S. President’s ‘outrage’; Trump administration had issued threats against countries that had supported it.
Pressured by the United States, member countries of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) postponed a vote on a strategic plan to move the shipping industry away from the use of fossil fuel and become “net-zero” by 2050.
In April, a sub-committee of the IMO approved a framework to bring in a new fuel standard for ships and a global pricing mechanism for carbon emissions. It was decided then that countries would formally vote in a meeting in October to bring these measures into force beginning 2027.
At that time, 63 countries voted ‘yes’ (including the 27 European Union members, Brazil, China, India, Canada, the U.K., Korea and Japan) and 16, including the United States, against it.
U.S. threats
While countries such as Saudi Arabia and Russia have been opposed to the framework, the United States administration since then continues to issue explicit threats against countries that had supported the framework.
Ahead of the vote in London on Friday, U.S. President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social: “I am outraged that the International Maritime Organization is voting in London this week to pass a global Carbon Tax. The United States will NOT stand for this Global Green New Scam Tax on Shipping, and will not adhere to it in any way, shape, or form. We will not tolerate increased prices on American Consumers OR, the creation of a Green New Scam Bureaucracy to spend YOUR money on their Green dreams. Stand with the United States, and vote NO in London tomorrow!”
When proceedings began on October 14, deliberations reportedly became fractious. Ultimately, Singapore brought in a proposal to delay a decision for a year. Saudi Arabia proposed a vote. This resulted in 57 countries voting in favour of delay; 49 against it; and 21 not voting.
The Hindu could not confirm which way India voted.
“We regret that IMO members followed Singapore’s initial proposal to delay the adoption of the framework by 12 months, which Saudi Arabia called to a vote. This is unacceptable given the urgency we face in light of accelerating climate change,” Ralph Regenvanu, Minister for Climate Change, Republic of Vanuatu, who was present at the meeting, said in a statement.
“The IMO’s failure to adopt the framework this week marks a failure of this United Nations agency to act decisively on climate change. This makes the road to Bélem and beyond more difficult. But we know that we have international law on our side and will continue to fight for our people and the planet,” he added.
Shipping emissions
The 2023 IMO GHG (greenhouse gas) Strategy — the umbrella framework — envisages, in particular, a minimum 40% reduction in carbon intensity of international shipping (to reduce CO2 emissions per transport work) by 2030.
