On 9 January 2025, 47 governments from around the world, supported by the European Commission and the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS), submitted a joint proposal to implement a pricing mechanism for greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in international shipping, with a joint text amending the International Maritime Organization´s (IMO) MARPOL Convention. The proposal will be discussed by an IMO working group next February.

The mechanism would oblige shipping companies to contribute financially for each tonne of CO₂ equivalent emitted, with the funds raised going to a new ‘IMO GHG Strategy Implementation Fund’. It is estimated that the contribution will range from $60 to $300 per tonne of fuel consumed.

The main purpose of this measure is to reduce the price differential between conventional fuels and zero/near-zero (ZNZ) fuels, such as green methanol, ammonia and hydrogen, thereby incentivising their uptake by industry. In addition, the revenues generated will be used to reward the production and use of these renewable fuels, and to support emission reduction efforts in developing countries. This approach is supported by major maritime nations such as Greece, Japan, South Korea and the UK, as well as key flag states including the Bahamas, Liberia, the Marshall Islands and Panama.

Guy Platten, secretary general of the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS), stressed that the industry fully supports this global mechanism. According to Platten, ‘the joint text proposed by this broad coalition is a pragmatic and effective solution to accelerate the sector´s energy transition, achieving the goal of zero net emissions by 2050’. However, he acknowledged that while most governments support a universal GHG emissions charge, there are still concerns among some states, so consensus will be sought during the final stages of the negotiations.

The proposal will be assessed at the intersessional meeting of the IMO´s GHG emissions working group in February 2025; and if the amendments to the MARPOL Convention are approved in April, the mechanism could enter into force in 2027, starting with the collection of contributions from 2028.

The 47 co-sponsoring states of this proposal include Spain and the rest of the EU countries, as well as Bahamas, Fiji, Georgia, Marshall Islands, Jamaica, Japan, Kenya, Liberia, Montenegro, Nigeria, Palau, Panama, Republic of Korea, Solomon Islands, Seychelles, Tonga, Tuvalu, Ukraine, United Kingdom and Vanuatu.

News and image obtained: "Infopuertos"

https://infopuertos.com/nueva-propuesta-a-la-omi-para-estab