The Biden administration is calling for drastic cuts in shipping emissions, but some developing nations may not be on board, says an article on Wall Street Journal.
To cut ship emissions
A new U.S. push to cut ship emissions will kick into high gear a multibillion-dollar quest for nonfossil fuels to power oceangoing vessels, but likely will face a backlash from Asian and South American nations that fear rising export costs.
The U.S. has stayed on the sidelines of a multi-year effort by the International Maritime Organization, the United Nations’ global maritime regulator, to slash CO2 emissions from ships by half in 2050 compared with 2008 levels. But in April, U.S. Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry signaled a change of stance, saying the IMO should push for the tougher target of zero emissions in that time frame.
Zero emissions by 2050
“The United States is committing to work with countries in the IMO to adopt the goal of achieving zero emissions from international shipping by 2050 and to adopt ambitious measures that will place the entire sector on a pathway to achieve this goal,” Mr. Kerry said during a virtual climate meeting.
The move is part of the Biden administration’s policy to address climate change after bringing the U.S. back into the Paris Agreement to limit greenhouse-gas emissions. Under the Trump administration, the State Department told the U.N. in 2019 that it would pull out of the accord.
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Source: Wall Street Journal
