In an assessment published on Thursday 25 June, Climate Action Tracker (CAT), a consortium formed by the research institutes Climate Analytics and NewClimate Institute, called the international climate objectives for maritime and air transport “seriously lacking ”, indicating that they would lead to a warming of +4 degrees Celsius if all other sectors were to follow the same approach.
The CAT particularly criticises the CORSIA system promoted by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).
It believes that this carbon offsetting and reduction scheme is unlikely to achieve its goal of carbon-neutral growth in international aviation from 2020, since it will probably cover less than half of international aviation emissions by 2035, and is likely to allow airlines to obtain credits for offsetting, the effect of which in terms of actual reductions in emissions is not rigorously controlled.
It is further concerned that the ICAO Council, which is currently in full session, is deciding to change the reference year for calculating the compensation requirements until 2019 (see EUROPE 12502/4).
With regard to the maritime sector, the assessment estimates that the sector is already three-quarters on track to exceed the 2030 target that was set by the International Maritime Organization (IMO).
The CAT is also of the opinion that liquefied natural gas is not an option, as it could increase the climate impact of maritime transport if the full life cycle of all greenhouse gases is taken into account.
See the CAT evaluation here: https://bit.ly/3dyVJ06 (Original version in French by Damien Genicot)