Insider Brief:
- The U.S. has issued a statement to IMO member states threatening “reciprocal measures” if they agree to decarbonization actions.
- The lack of a U.S. physical presence at the talks had indicated to many that the U.S. was not participating in the negotiations.
- The U.S. said any emissions levy or similar action would “impose substantial economic burdens on the sector” and were “an effort to redistribute wealth under the guise of environmental protection.”
U.S. Rejects IMO’s Proposed Decarbonization Efforts
The United States has threatened to punish member states with “reciprocal measures” if they agree to a carbon levy at the International Maritime Organization talks in London, Lloyd’s List reported April 9.
The U.S. submitted a late bid to prevent the organization from adopting decarbonization measures to decarbonize the heavily polluting sector by 2050. Overall maritime emissions account for 3% of global emissions.
According to the U.S. statement, the decarbonization measures would “impose substantial economic burdens on the sector and drive inflation globally.”
U.S. Pushes for Bilateral Negotiations Instead
To prevent this from being adopted, the U.S. told member states via a statement that the IMO should “halt all efforts to proliferate the deeply unfair agenda reflected in the Paris Agreement in other fora.”
The U.S. has not been present at the IMO negotiations thus far, leading many to believe the country were not interested in participating in the discussions, Lloyd’s List reported.
In the statement, the U.S. said the proposed decarbonization efforts are “foremost an effort to redistribute wealth under the guise of environmental protection.”
“Accordingly, we must be clear the U.S. rejects any and all efforts to impose economic measures against its ships based on GHG emissions or fuel choice…and urges your government to reconsider its support for the GHG emissions under consideration.”
IMO Decarbonization Talks Continue Despite U.S. Objections
The IMO has been criticized by many for its years of inaction in moving towards cutting emissions. The meetings in London happening now were expected to impose an emissions levy and discuss new, less polluting fuels.
The U.S. statement also said that the country would be interested in conducting bilateral negotiations with IMO member states, outside of the IMO process.
