The Global Shippers’ Forum is opposing plans put forward by the International Chamber of Shipping to impose a bunker levy in order to fund an environmental compensation scheme to meet shippers’ climate change responsibilities.
The ICS says its proposed levy would raise billions of dollars, and that it will act as a means of heading off regional regulation.
GSF Secretary General Chris Welsh said: “Merely passing on shipping carbon costs to their customers via a bunker levy not only removes shipowner accountability but will not reduce carbon emissions.”
The GSF Board said it would welcome and support a voluntary shipping industry initiative to reduce carbon emissions through the International Maritime Organisation, but that the shipping industry must take direct responsibility for setting and achieving a clear target for reducing its carbon emissions.
Welsh said: “Shipowners need to introduce a rigorous scheme targeting operational efficiencies and other measures to reduce shipping carbon emissions.
“The shipping industry should move quickly in setting up a voluntary carbon reduction scheme and in winning political support for this. The GSF would strongly back such an approach and would join the shipping industry in a campaign to secure the support of governments and member states within IMO.”
GSF members are collaborating on a new project to decarbonise the maritime supply chain from the shippers’ perspective. The project will provide tools to allow shippers to take positive steps to reduce their total maritime supply chain carbon emissions.
