UK: Chamber of Shipping says taxes may be necessary to cut carbon emissions Tuesday, 16.Aug.2011, 22:00 (GMT+3) THE UK Chamber of Shipping (CoS) has told the global shipping community
that it must go further that adopting the IMO technical efficiencies to
cut carbon emissions.
The UK Chamber of Shipping are to launch 'manuals' to address the practical options available to the industry in regards to lowering shipping emissions. Image: roberto_venturini / Flickr
THE UK Chamber of Shipping (CoS) has told the global shipping community
that it must go further that adopting the IMO technical efficiencies to
cut carbon emissions and that an economic (or market-based) system -
ultimately a state system of taxation - may be necessary to meet
government targets.
"This is a complex international debate for which we need active
participation from the shipping industry and governments to find a
genuine solution. This must be global - through the IMO - rather than
regional," said chamber director general Mark Brownrigg, referring to
opposition to the European Union's go-it-alone approach with their own
taxation system through a carbon credit trading scheme.
"It is crucial that we do not discount either of the main proposed
economic mechanisms for encouraging carbon reductions. The debate lies
ahead on which option will provide greater certainty of outcome, ease of
application and without damaging the growth of the industry and world
trade. That debate must be based on practical considerations rather than
conjecture," he said.
International opinion is divided on the best model for reducing the
shipping industry's carbon emissions. Some support the idea of a
greenhouse gas (GHG) contribution fund, in which shipping companies
would contribute as part of purchases of bunker fuel, said Tanker
Operator.
More and more doubts arise over the validity of the science and
rationale behind global warming claims that underpin demands for such
measures. Larger companies can be expected to gain market share from
smaller companies who fail to meet the ascending regulatory demands, the
basis of which are coming under increasing scrutiny.
"It is crucial that we do not discount either of the main proposed
economic mechanisms for encouraging carbon reductions. The debate lies
ahead on which option will provide greater certainty of outcome, ease of
application and without damaging the growth of the industry and world
trade. That debate must be based on practical considerations rather than
conjecture," he said.
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