LONDON — The United Nations maritime agency is holding a weeklong meeting aimed at curbing emissions from ships.

Environmental activists say that while shipping contributes only 2-3 of global greenhouses gases, the industry's efforts are essential to combating climate change.

Proposals at the International Maritime Organization meeting that began Monday in London include keeping emissions below 2008 levels, but some shipping nations oppose such a cap.

European Union members and other countries want a 70 to 100 reduction in greenhouse emissions by 2050. They cite a study which found that alternative fuels, wind-assisted ships and electric engines could replace shipping fuels without endangering global trade.

Proposals to cut sulfur oxide emissions and to extend to the Arctic a ban on heavy fuel oil that already covers the Antarctic also will be considered. </s> An international body that regulates worldwide shipping has agreed to stop the use of a highly polluting fuel in the Arctic.

But the International Maritime Organization will wait to implement a ban on heavy fuel oil until its impact on northern communities is complete, a caveat inserted at Canada's request.

The organization will "develop a ban on (heavy fuel oil) for use and carriage as fuel by ships in Arctic waters, on an appropriate time scale," said a spokesman for the United Nations-sponsored group from London, where meetings were taking place.

The organization also passed a proposal to force the shipping industry to cut its emissions in half by the middle of the century.

Heavy fuel oil, called by some the dirtiest fuel on the planet, presents major spill concerns.

"On land, it is considered hazardous waste," said Kendra Ulrich of Stand.Earth, who was in London to observe the meetings.

Heavy fuel oil is also a major source of black carbon, which is considered a significant driver behind climate change because it darkens snow and ice and causes it to melt faster.

But because the soot doesn't remain long in the environment, getting rid of it can result in quick improvements.

Heavy fuel oil is already banned in the Antarctic.

The ban will now go to a separate committee which will develop concrete proposals to implement the ban. It will also consider how to ensure the ban doesn't increase the cost of shipping to remote Arctic communities, in response to concerns from Canada.

"They are moving forward with a ban," said Ulrich. "It's really just a question of when."

Reducing emissions

Her group is pressing the organization to move quickly, but Ulrich said the earliest a ban could be in place would be 2021.

"We're looking at a huge stride forward, but these international bodies move slowly."

The organization, with Canada's support, also supported a proposal to require ships in international waters to reduce emissions to 50 per cent below what they were in 2008 by mid-century.

Only the United States and Saudi Arabia voted against the idea.

"Canada welcomes the agreement reached on an initial strategy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from international maritime shipping," said Transport Canada spokeswoman Delphine Denis.

"Canada will work with international partners to turn attention to developing concrete measures to ensure the initial greenhouse gas strategy begins to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from international maritime shipping as soon as possible." </s> OTTAWA — The Canadian government is on board with an international proposal passed this week to force the shipping industry to cut its emissions in half by the middle of the century.

The International Marine Organization is also directing its policy-makers to craft a document to ban heavy fuel oil — known as the dirtiest fuel source on the planet — from being used in the Arctic, while taking into account the impacts of such a ban on Arctic communities.

Although Canada has been publicly quiet about its position in the debate over shipping emissions that went on this week in London, the government ultimately supported the proposal to require ships in international waters to reduce emissions to 50 per cent below what they were in 2008 by mid-century.

Only the United States and Saudi Arabia voted against the idea. </s> OTTAWA – The Canadian government is on board with an international proposal passed this week to force the shipping industry to cut its emissions in half by the middle of the century.

The International Marine Organization is also directing its policy-makers to craft a document to ban heavy fuel oil — known as the dirtiest fuel source on the planet — from being used in the Arctic, while taking into account the impacts of such a ban on Arctic communities.

Although Canada has been publicly quiet about its position in the debate over shipping emissions that went on this week in London, the government ultimately supported the proposal to require ships in international waters to reduce emissions to 50 per cent below what they were in 2008 by mid-century.

Only the United States and Saudi Arabia voted against the idea.

Canada pushed for a phase-down rather than an outright ban on heavy fuel oil while the impact on the Arctic is addressed, as the fuel is less than half the cost of other options and replacing it could raise already high prices for food and supplies in the North

International shipping emissions are not assigned to individual countries and were omitted from the Paris climate change agreement, as the marine organization pledged to deal with the matter on its own. </s> OTTAWA — An international body that regulates worldwide shipping has agreed to stop the use of a highly polluting fuel in the Arctic.

But the International Maritime Organization will wait to implement a ban on heavy fuel oil until its impact on northern communities is complete, a caveat inserted at Canada's request.

The organization will "develop a ban on (heavy fuel oil) for use and carriage as fuel by ships in Arctic waters, on an appropriate time scale," said a spokesman for the United Nations-sponsored group from London, where meetings were taking place.

The organization also passed a proposal to force the shipping industry to cut its emissions in half by the middle of the century. </s> London — Most of the world’s countries have agreed to a mandatory deal that, for the first time, will limit emissions from the global shipping industry.

After a week of negotiations at a London meeting of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), a UN body, envoys from 173 countries agreed to cut emissions by at least 50% by 2050 from 2008 levels. Saudi Arabia, the US and Russia all objected.

The accord is a significant step in the fight against global warming. Shipping, the only industry not included in the 2015 Paris climate agreement, would rank as the sixth-largest greenhouse gas emitter if it were a country, according to the World Bank. If left unchecked, that share could account for 15% of global carbon emissions by 2050, a five-fold increase from today.

"It is likely this target will tighten further, but even with the lowest level of ambition, the shipping industry will require rapid technological changes," said Tristan Smith, a reader at University College London’s Energy Institute.

Vessels typically burn heavy fuel oil, one of the cheapest but also among the dirtiest fossil fuels. The industry wasn’t included in the Paris agreement because each country presented an individual plan to reduce their own emissions, while the seas were left out.

Friday’s agreement commits to pursuing emission cuts that will be consistent with the Paris deal goals.

Reducing the industry’s emissions has been a hotly contested issue. One of the most vociferous proponents of emission controls have been the Pacific island nations, where rising sea levels are already swallowing up land, and the rate is expected to increase in the coming decades.

Other countries have resisted targets. Oil-producing nations including Saudi Arabia have expressed concern about the impact of the measures on their fuel supply business, while Brazil and Argentina have said controls could penalise countries that are far from the world’s main consumer hubs.

This isn’t the first time the IMO has tried to be cleaner.

Six years ago, the organisation adopted design requirements to make new vessels more energy efficient. More than 70% of container ships built between 2013 and 2017 exceed the standard, which sets limits on carbon emissions per ship, according to analysis from Transport & Environment, a Belgian NGO.

"Making new ships emit less carbon dioxide is the most obvious way to de-carbonise the sector because ships have long lifetimes, usually around 25 to 30 years," said Faig Abbasov, a shipping officer at Transport & Environment. "If you don’t build new ships more efficiently, those ships will still be sailing around in the middle of the century." </s> Countries are meeting in an attempt to agree cuts to greenhouse gases from the global shipping industry, amid pressure on the sector to help tackle climate change.

Shipping, like aviation, is not directly included in the Paris Agreement, the international deal on global warming which was secured in the French capital in 2015 and commits countries to avoiding "dangerous" climate change.

At a meeting in London of members of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), countries are debating the action the sector should take on the issue.

The global shipping industry accounts for around two per cent to three per cent of international climate emissions but if countries take the action pledged under the Paris Agreement, shipping's share will rise to as much as a fifth by 2050.

The industry has proposed that IMO members agree to cap emissions at 2008 levels, while some countries do not want any curbs, suggesting it would harm global trade.

But some Pacific island nations, such as the Marshall Islands which is threatened by rising sea levels but is also a major flag state, want emissions from shipping to fall to zero, to help keep alive the Paris Agreement pledge to pursue efforts to limit temperature rises to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels.

A recent study by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) found maximum deployment of current known technologies, including alternative fuels, efficiency and even use of electric or wind-assisted ships, could almost completely decarbonise the sector by 2035.

The UK is pushing for zero emission shipping "as soon as possible", with EU member states calling for a 70-100 per cent cut in greenhouse gases by 2050 compared to 2008 levels.

Ministers have said they want the IMO meeting to secure an "ambitious" deal that ensures international shipping does not get left behind as other sectors take action.

And they said the government was supporting the industry in the development of green technologies and fuels, which would provide opportunities for growth for UK maritime companies. </s> An international body that regulates worldwide shipping has agreed to ban the use of a highly polluting fuel in the Arctic.

After meetings in London, the International Maritime Organization has agreed it will eventually phase out the use of heavy fuel oil.

The fuel presents major spill concerns and is the source of black carbon, or soot, that speeds up the melt of Arctic sea ice.

The UN-sponsored body will now assess possible impacts on Arctic communities and come up with a way to implement a ban.

Kendra Ulrich, who has been monitoring the talks for the environmental group Stand.Earth, says that could happen within three years.

She called the agreement a major victory which has been years in the making. </s> Countries are meeting in an attempt to agree cuts to greenhouse gases from the global shipping industry, amid pressure on the sector to help tackle climate change.

Shipping, like aviation, is not directly included in the Paris Agreement, the international deal on global warming which was secured in the French capital in 2015 and commits countries to avoiding “dangerous” climate change.

At a meeting in London of members of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), countries are debating the action the sector should take on the issue.

The global shipping industry accounts for around 2% to 3% of international climate emissions but if countries take the action pledged under the Paris Agreement, shipping’s share will rise to as much as a fifth by 2050.

The industry has proposed that IMO members agree to cap emissions at 2008 levels, while some countries do not want any curbs, suggesting it would harm global trade.

But some Pacific island nations, such as the Marshall Islands which is threatened by rising sea levels but is also a major flag state, want emissions from shipping to fall to zero, to help keep alive the Paris Agreement pledge to pursue efforts to limit temperature rises to 1.5C above pre-industrial levels.

A recent study by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) found maximum deployment of current known technologies, including alternative fuels, efficiency and even use of electric or wind-assisted ships, could almost completely decarbonise the sector by 2035.

The UK is pushing for zero emission shipping “as soon as possible”, with EU member states calling for a 70%-100% cut in greenhouse gases by 2050 compared to 2008 levels.

Ministers have said they want the IMO meeting to secure an “ambitious” deal that ensures international shipping does not get left behind as other sectors take action.

And they said the Government was supporting the industry in the development of green technologies and fuels, which would provide opportunities for growth for UK maritime companies.

Shipping minister Nusrat Ghani said: “The eyes of the world are upon us in what is a crucial week for the future of the shipping industry and our planet.

“Shipping has always been at the forefront of technological change, and needs a clear signal to invest in a zero emissions future.

“I urge all IMO member states to support the UK in its call for an ambitious and credible strategy that will open new opportunities in green technologies and fuels and ensure shipping plays its full part in global efforts to reduce greenhouse gases.”
The International Maritime Organisation announces agreements to reduce shipping emissions by 50% of 2008 levels by 2050, and to ban heavy fuel oil from the Arctic.