Soon CO2 penalties for ships: is shipping ready for change?

Soon CO2 penalties for ships: is shipping ready for change?

Pazifische Inselstaaten, Ozeanien - International shipping faces a significant change in their handling of greenhouse gas emissions. The member countries of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) have agreed to gradually reduce CO2 emissions in maritime traffic. From 2028, this measure, which is regarded as a historical step in the fight against climate change, provides for ships that exceed a defined CO2 limit. The punishment begins at $ 100 (90 euros) per tonne CO2 and can increase in further exceedance, reports OE24.at .

The European Commission described the Agreement as significant progress in the climate neutrality of global shipping by 2050. An expected income from the CO2 prize is between $ 11 and $ 13 billion annually, which are to be used for the development and use of emission-free or almost emission-free fuels. This new course has the potential to fundamentally change the entire industry.

a comprehensive approach to emission reduction

The IMO, with its strategy adopted in 2023, pursues the goal of completely reducing the greenhouse gas emissions of international shipping by the middle of the century. This strategy provides for the introduction of alternative fuels and energy sources and focuses on improving energy efficiency through operational measures. Furthermore, existing measures such as the Carbon Intensity Indicator (CII) should also be integrated into the approach in order to optimize the efficiency of the shipping value chain, according to iMo.org

Some island states in the Pacific and the Caribbean said concerns and contained a proposal for CO2 neutrality by 2050. These states call for an ambitious CO2 tax on sea transport. The reason for the reluctance is that the proposed proposal is considered inadequate.

The role of the global community

The IMO, a special organization of the United Nations, is responsible for almost three percent of global greenhouse gas emissions caused by shipping. Mark Lutes from the WWF describes the current agreement as a "groundbreaking moment" for the industry. However, he emphasizes that some aspects of the agreement remain behind the necessary measures. The next time frame for the implementation of the new regulations provides for the first intermediate steps by 2028, including comprehensive consequences and the approval of measures that should contribute to achieving the climate goals, such as on Spiegel.de is reported.

The development of an international framework for evaluating greenhouse gas intensity and the sustainability of alternative fuels is considered essential. It remains to be seen how the shipping industry will react to these new regulations and what measures are taken to achieve the ambitious climate goals.