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Global Shipping Emissions Levy Delayed as US Exerts Pressure
A crucial international meeting on emissions pricing for global shipping ended in stalemate yesterday, with countries agreeing to delay plans to impose a levy on the greenhouse gases produced by vessels. The decision, which was met with criticism from climate activists and experts, marks a significant setback in the fight against climate change.
The International Maritime Organisation (IMO) had initially proposed a levy, which would have required shipowners to pay a small charge on CO2 emissions and incentivize them to switch to cleaner fuels. However, the United States, Saudi Arabia, Russia, and other fossil fuel-rich nations successfully lobbied countries to put the plan on hold for at least a year.
The US had exerted significant pressure on countries in the lead-up to the meeting, threatening tariffs, penalties, and visa revocations if they supported the pricing mechanism. This campaign of intimidation was seen as bullying by many delegates, who accused the US of trying to block a key step towards reducing global shipping emissions.
Despite the setback, some experts believe that the delay may ultimately be beneficial for the planet. "Progressive shipping businesses and nations can still chart a course to a clean shipping future," said Dr Simon Bullock, a research fellow at the University of Manchester. "However, Mr Trump's aggressive lobbying has made their job much harder."
The IMO secretary general, Arsenio Dominguez, was scathing in his criticism of the meeting, saying that it was time for countries to reflect on how they approached the discussion and to prioritize cooperation over confrontation.
The delay means uncertainty and confusion for companies involved in shipping, as well as for global trade. However, experts estimate that the levy could raise $10 billion a year if implemented, which could help poor countries cope with the impacts of climate change.
Shipping accounts for around 3% of global greenhouse gas emissions, but this is forecast to rise to 10% by mid-century. The IMO has been working on reducing carbon from shipping for decades, but progress has been slow.
Climate activists are now calling on governments to come together and support a stronger plan to reduce emissions from shipping. "No single flag should dictate the world's climate course," said Anaïs Rios, senior shipping policy officer at Seas at Risk. "What matters now is that countries rise up and come back with a louder and more confident yes vote that cannot be silenced."
The planet does not have time to waste, as extreme weather events continue to ravage communities around the world. The next opportunity for global leaders to take action will come at the Cop30 UN climate summit in Brazil next month.
A crucial international meeting on emissions pricing for global shipping ended in stalemate yesterday, with countries agreeing to delay plans to impose a levy on the greenhouse gases produced by vessels. The decision, which was met with criticism from climate activists and experts, marks a significant setback in the fight against climate change.
The International Maritime Organisation (IMO) had initially proposed a levy, which would have required shipowners to pay a small charge on CO2 emissions and incentivize them to switch to cleaner fuels. However, the United States, Saudi Arabia, Russia, and other fossil fuel-rich nations successfully lobbied countries to put the plan on hold for at least a year.
The US had exerted significant pressure on countries in the lead-up to the meeting, threatening tariffs, penalties, and visa revocations if they supported the pricing mechanism. This campaign of intimidation was seen as bullying by many delegates, who accused the US of trying to block a key step towards reducing global shipping emissions.
Despite the setback, some experts believe that the delay may ultimately be beneficial for the planet. "Progressive shipping businesses and nations can still chart a course to a clean shipping future," said Dr Simon Bullock, a research fellow at the University of Manchester. "However, Mr Trump's aggressive lobbying has made their job much harder."
The IMO secretary general, Arsenio Dominguez, was scathing in his criticism of the meeting, saying that it was time for countries to reflect on how they approached the discussion and to prioritize cooperation over confrontation.
The delay means uncertainty and confusion for companies involved in shipping, as well as for global trade. However, experts estimate that the levy could raise $10 billion a year if implemented, which could help poor countries cope with the impacts of climate change.
Shipping accounts for around 3% of global greenhouse gas emissions, but this is forecast to rise to 10% by mid-century. The IMO has been working on reducing carbon from shipping for decades, but progress has been slow.
Climate activists are now calling on governments to come together and support a stronger plan to reduce emissions from shipping. "No single flag should dictate the world's climate course," said Anaïs Rios, senior shipping policy officer at Seas at Risk. "What matters now is that countries rise up and come back with a louder and more confident yes vote that cannot be silenced."
The planet does not have time to waste, as extreme weather events continue to ravage communities around the world. The next opportunity for global leaders to take action will come at the Cop30 UN climate summit in Brazil next month.
about this whole thing. I mean, we need all hands on deck to tackle climate change, and it's like some countries are more interested in protecting their own interests than doing what's best for the planet 
. The US is being super unfair, exerting pressure on other nations like they're playing some kinda game of climate chess 
. It's not like we haven't had enough warning signs – shipping emissions are already rising and it's only gonna get worse if we don't take action 
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. Maybe it'll give people time to rethink their priorities and figure out ways to make shipping more sustainable without relying on carbon pricing 
. But let's not forget that this isn't just about the US or Saudi Arabia – it's about every country that's contributing to the problem 
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. We need cooperation, not confrontation 
. The planet is counting on us, so let's get our acts together ASAP 
!
Just heard about this shipping emissions levy delay and I'm so bummed! 
It's like, we need a super urgent plan to reduce our carbon footprint, but countries are still playing politics 
. I mean, who wants to block progress on climate change? 
The US is just making it harder for the rest of us to take action 
, and IMO secretary general's right - we need cooperation over confrontation 
, like, it might make ship owners more motivated to switch to cleaner fuels 
. Fingers crossed! 
- that's some serious cash for reducing emissions 
. We can't keep playing games and expecting the planet to wait patiently 
!
And what's with the US threatening everyone else if they don't get their way? It's like they think we're all just going to roll over and let them dictate what's best for the planet. Newsflash: we're in this together, folks! 
what's going on with shipping and emissions anyway? my friend has a cousin who works on a ship and he says its super dirty and stuff. shouldn'tnt we just make them pay or something? 
anyway, i guess it's good that some ppl think the delay might actually help with a cleaner shipping industry... would be lit to see those fossil fuel rich nations take responsibility 
... they're basically threatening countries into not taking care of our planet's future. its like, we know that shipping emissions are a big deal and need to be addressed ASAP! but now i'm worried that it'll just get pushed back even further... and honestly, $10 billion isnt gonna make a huge dent in the grand scheme of things 
... what we really need is for countries to work together and come up with a solid plan to reduce emissions from shipping. anything less feels like a step backwards 
The IMO was supposed to be working on this stuff decades ago, and progress has been slower than a turtle on valium 
. What's next? Are we just gonna keep putting off until tomorrow what we should've been doing yesterday? 
my friend who's a sailor said it's gonna be super hard for them now coz there's so much uncertainty about how much this is all gonna cost... $10 billion could really help poor countries tho 
but i think maybe it's not all bad? 
I mean, what a surprise! The US comes along and starts flexing its muscles, threatening everyone with tariffs and penalties if they don't get their way... 
The delay might be good for some companies who want to keep raking it in from fossil fuels, but what about the rest of us who are dying from pollution and extreme weather events? 
At least they're talking about implementing a levy that could raise $10 billion a year... sounds like a small price to pay for saving the planet 
The thought of that $10 billion a year going towards helping poor countries cope with climate change is just heartbreaking 
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from the US, Saudi Arabia, Russia... it's like they're trying to own the world 
. I'm all for a cleaner shipping future 
. It's gonna be a tough road ahead for poor countries to cope with climate change, and it feels like the US is just gonna keep holding them back 
not delay things indefinitely 
"The biggest risk is not taking any risk." - Mark Zuckerberg 
Delaying the emissions levy from global shipping would only add fuel to the fire, allowing greenhouse gas emissions to continue rising. It's time for countries to put aside their differences and work together to reduce carbon emissions from shipping. We can't afford to wait any longer 
I feel kinda disappointed with what happened at that meeting... It's like they're all playing a game of chicken and it's the planet that's gonna get burned 
. We need systemic change here, not just tweaking the rules 
.