The International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) has extended its support to the global deal on climate change taking place at the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP 21) in Le Bourget, Paris.
Representing the global shipping industry, ICS has accepted its responsibility to sustain the CO2 reduction measures undertaken by the global community.
The conference has also recommended the UN International Maritime Organization (IMO) enforce further regulations to curb CO2 emissions across the global merchant fleet.
According to the IMO, the carbon emissions from international maritime shipping could increase by 250% in the period up to 2050 if left unchecked.
The present carbon emissions from maritime shipping represents up to 2.2% of the global total.
ICS secretary general Peter Hinchliffe said: “Mandatory regulations already adopted by IMO will ensure that all ships built after 2025 will be at least 30% more efficient than ships operating today. Combined with further technical and operational measures plus new technology, international shipping should be able to reduce its CO2 per tonne-kilometre by 50% before 2050.

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By GlobalData“These dramatic further CO2 reductions will be genuine and real. We will have bigger ships, better engines, cleaner fuels and smarter speed management. The mandatory worldwide use by ships of low sulphur fuel to reduce air pollution will provide a further significant incentive to improve fuel efficiency.”
In 2011, the IMO adopted the Energy Efficiency Design Index (EEDI) to regulate compulsory energy efficiency standards for new ships besides the Ship Energy Efficiency Management Plan (SEEMP) to reduce emissions from the shipping sector.