Samoa has joined the European Union (EU) and two other nations to criticise the global shipping industry for "moving in the wrong direction" in its efforts to accelerate decarbonisation.

Ahead of the 80th session of the International Maritime Organisation's [IMO] Marine Environment Protection Committee [MEPC] from 3-7 July 2023, global maritime news website The Maritime Executive reported Friday that the EU has stepped up its calls to "accelerate decarbonisation of the global shipping industry saying the industry must reach net-zero by 2050."

It was reported that during a meeting at the United Nations in New York, the EU delegation joined by representatives from Denmark, Palau, and Samoa called for an "ambitious consensus" from the IMO with the EU also putting forward proposals for new climate targets for the shipping sector.

“It has become clear that an important source of greenhouses gas (GHG) emissions – the international shipping sector – is moving in the wrong direction,” the representatives declared, Maritime Executive reported. “This calls for intensifying the IMO’s action in the field of GHG [greenhouse gas] emissions reduction, both in terms of absolute emission reduction targets and of concrete policy measures.”

Pointing out that GHG emissions from shipping continued to increase – which the Maritime Executive reported was both in "absolute and relative terms" – the representatives of the EU, Denmark, Palau, and Samoa said the emissions are close to reaching 3 per cent of "all man-generated GHG emissions". According to Maritime Executive, the representatives were staking out their positions ahead of the MEPC meeting in London, which will adopt a revised climate strategy.

The EU Head of Delegation to the UN, Ambassador Olof Skoog introduced the EU proposals saying that they believe it is only logical for shipping to be net zero by 2050, doubling the target from the IMO’s previous position of a 50 per cent reduction in GHG emissions. The proposals look to expand on the EU’s recently adopted FuelEU for the maritime sector to provide a global framework. The IMO’s current target he said is “clearly insufficient.”

To achieve net zero by 2050, the presentation called for shipping to peak its emissions as soon as possible. The EU delegation is proposing goals for a 29 per cent cut by 2030, and 83 per cent by 2040, saying these would be “good interim targets.”

“The one decisive step now for July, however, is to achieve agreement on a net zero target for the shipping for 2050. This would show that the international community is serious about decarbonization,” said Skoog.