MEPC 80 last week was swoon-worthy

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I didn’t spend last week in London debating the merits of the various proposals at MEPC 80 on emission targets. My hat goes off to those with the patience and rigor to fight the fight. As in every sort of negotiation, there are winners and losers.

I only hope it isn’t the maritime industry that has lost.

We can all agree that everyone has a role and responsibility to preserve the environment. I think we can also agree that given shipping’s role as the “engine of global trade” identifying the balance between commerce and conservation is the ultimate goal. My question is does this agreement do that?

While I applaud the inclusion of a 70% GHG reduction target for 2040, why the squishy language around net-zero by 2050? Either you are compliant or not.  Is this the price of consensus? Perhaps.

The public is getting closer and closer to shipping, and we don’t have a voice to defend ourselves. The environmental groups have already begun the narrative that shipping isn’t doing enough and will exceed its 1.5C increase by 2032. How do we defend loosely defined targets in the face of daily evidence that our planet is on a trajectory towards self-immolation?

Let’s ask the mermaids…

Keep optimizing,
Carleen

Carleen Lyden Walker
Chief Evolution Officer
SHIPPINGInsight
IMO Goodwill Maritime Ambassador
+1 203 255 4686 (o)
+1 203 260 0480 (m)
c.walker@shippinginsight.com
www.shippinginsight.com