INTERTANKO backs net zero by 2050
Written by Nick BlenkeyThe Council of Members of the International Association of Independent Tanker Owners (INTERTANKO) has agreed that international shipping should strive to achieve net zero CO2 emissions by 2050. This is in line with the Declaration on Zero Emission Shipping by 2050 released at COP26 and signed by 14 countries, including the U.S. It is, however, double the level of ambition set in the IMO GHG strategy, which currently calls for international shipping to reduce its emissions by 50% by 2050.
INTERTANKO says its decision to supports amending the level of ambition set by IMO to net zero by 2050 is driven by its members’ commitment to the total decarbonization of seaborne transportation. In reaching this decision, INTERTANKO will actively pursue and encourage the participation of all stakeholders in the development of the technologies and fuels needed for international shipping to meet this goal safely.
“This goal is consistent with the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) recent assessment on reaching net zero CO2 emissions,” said Paolo d’Amico, Chairman of INTERTANKO. It demonstrates our willingness to contribute our fair share to reducing emissions from the international tanker fleet.”
“Crucially,” added d’Amico, “in adopting this goal of net zero CO2 emissions by 2050, INTERTANKO’s Council has stressed the importance of safety for ships’ crews and highlighted the need to facilitate crew training in the use and handling of new technologies and fuels developed to meet this goal.”
EXECUTIVE REMARKS
INTERTANKO’s Managing Director, Katharina Stanzel, said: “In making this decision, our members are fully cognizant that zero-carbon technologies and fuels, suitable for marine application, are currently inadequate to achieve this ambitious goal. Therefore, we stress the need for governments at IMO to approve the International Maritime Research and Development Board (IMRB) proposal, aimed at accelerating the R&D urgently needed to develop such technologies and fuels.”
The INTERTANKO Council also agreed to support a fuel levy market-based mechanism (MBM) as the most viable option to achieve aspirational emission reduction goals.
“INTERTANKO firmly believes that a global fuel levy MBM that is simple, transparent and economically reasonable is the most effective means to support the deployment of zero-carbon technologies and fuels, once they are developed, to decarbonise international shipping,” said Dragos Rauta, INTERTANKO’s Technical Director.
The IMO’s Marine Environment Protection Committee will be meeting next week to consider several major proposals to implement and improve the GHG Strategy adopted in 2018. INTERTANKO says its decision demonstrates the association’s proactive approach to reducing GHG emissions from shipping and will allow it to actively engage in the IMO debate on the issue.