Hope still floats for addressing global shipping pollution

Despite a setback, maritime nations at COP30 aim to cut sector’s fossil fuel use.

- By ANTON L. DELGADO AND JENNIFER McDERMOTT

At international climate talks in Belem, Brazil, the head of the International Maritime Organization said he’s continuing to “advocate and campaign” for global regulations to move the shipping industry away from fossil fuels, despite the United States and Saudi Arabia blocking new rules last month.

IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez spoke at one of the first side events at the United Nations climate negotiations this week on the edge of the Brazilian Amazon. The side event discussed the shipping industry’s efforts to slash carbon pollution by cutting back on fossil fuels.

Plan to slash emissions postponed

The regulations — or “Net-Zero Framework” — would have set a marine fuel standard that decreases the amount of greenhouse gas emissions allowed from shipping fuels overtime. The regulations also would establish a pricing system that would impose a minimum fee of $100 for every ton of greenhouse gases emitted by ships above allowable limits.