Read on Twitter
Not before time, the UN shipping body allows media to cover national negotiating positions https://twitter.com/Anastassios_LL/status/1328288085143072769
I got a two-year ban for quoting the delegate for the Cook Islands, Ian Finlay, who's actually an industry lobbyist living in Lancashire, in this 2016 article https://www.climatechangenews.com/2016/07/15/offshore-carbon-why-a-climate-deal-for-shipping-is-sinking/
*Finley
It seems the absurdity of it galvanised some transparency campaigners and delegates into getting the rules changed - thanks folks!
It matters because after agreeing a not totally terrible climate target for shipping in 2018.... https://www.climatechangenews.com/2018/04/13/shipping-halve-carbon-footprint-2050-first-sector-wide-climate-strategy/
...the latest proposals to put it into action are completely toothless https://www.climatechangenews.com/2020/10/15/ships-get-free-pass-emissions-2030-compromise-proposal/
Countries that present themselves as climate leaders in other settings - Norway, France, Japan - are backing a weak compromise, with no enforcement of fuel efficiency measures until 2030
We're talking about a sector responsible for ~3% of global GHG emissions and plenty of technical options to clean up its impacts
There are other avenues for climate action in shipping: port regulations, industry forums, regional carbon pricing etc. But only the IMO can implement global regulations
Because ships can register their flags anywhere, there is a race to the bottom when it comes to regulatory requirements. Several countries are represented by flag registry officials, who do not necessarily reflect the national interest
The starkest example is the Marshall Islands, which faces an existential threat from rising sea levels. It is also, nominally, the world's second largest flag registry. In actual fact the flag registry operates from Virginia, US
Marshallese leader Tony de Brum, RIP, had to fight registry officials for the country's seat at the IMO, where he was instrumental in pushing for higher ambition on climate https://www.climatechangenews.com/2015/05/14/why-the-marshall-islands-are-rocking-the-boat-at-un-shipping-talks/
Media scrutiny is essential for citizens of these countries to hold their governments accountable for positions supposedly taken on their behalf
We all have a stake in the outcome of these talks. Thanks to @IMOHQ for recognising that and improving transparency /end thread
