Brussels, 29/06/2011 (Agence Europe) - It is now up to the maritime sector to cut CO2 emissions and oil consumption. If an international agreement is not reached through the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) by the end of the year, the EU will set its own objectives.
European Transport Commissioner Siim Kallas and Connie Hedegaard, Commissioner for Climate Action, sat around the discussion table on Tuesday 28 June with the maritime industry, the member states and the European Parliament in order to discuss what course should be taken to reduce greenhouse gas emissions over the short, medium and long term. They above all discussed the adoption of an IMO Energy Efficiency Design Index containing technical specifications aimed at improving the design of new vessels in order to make them “greener”.
However, although this index is to be approved in July, it is still far from having unanimity among the 169 IMO member nations. In the event of stalled talks at the international level, or if there is an agreement not to meet the EU reduction objectives (20% by 2020 for all sectors combined), then the Commission will propose targets proper to the Union in 2012. Siim Kallas would prefer to have a commitment at international level via the IMO, given that the maritime sector is globalised. Along the same lines, Commissioner Hedegaard, responsible for climate action, urges the IMO to find an agreement to reduce emissions caused by shipping, and said the 28-participant meeting was necessary if any progress is to be made.