Why shipping faces a showdown over greenhouse gas

Ships crisscrossing our oceans give off as much planet-warming carbon through their smokestacks in a year as the whole of Germany.

The massive shipping industry is responsible for transporting nine-tenths of our goods around the world.

But it doesn't yet have a goal for cutting emissions to "net zero".

A UN summit starting on Monday hopes to change that.

Ships crisscrossing our oceans give off as much planet-warming carbon through their smokestacks in a year as the whole of Germany.

The massive shipping industry is responsible for transporting nine-tenths of our goods around the world.

But it doesn't yet have a goal for cutting emissions to "net zero".

A UN summit starting on Monday hopes to change that.

That could grow by as much as 50% by the middle of this century if stronger action isn't taken, experts have warned.

The shipping industry's current plans only envisage a halving of emissions by the middle of this century, a commitment that scientists say is far out of line with the Paris climate agreement.

This week, under the control of the UN's International Maritime Organisation (IMO), delegates from 175 shipping countries will meet in London to try and agree on a new timeline for completely decarbonising their industry.

Campaigners want to see a much tougher target, with a reduction of approximately half by 2030 and a new net-zero goal for 2050. Others want to go further still and see a full decarbonisation brought forward to 2040.

"If member states get this right, they can set the shipping sector in line to meet the Paris temperature targets and promote investment in green technologies that will completely transform the sector," said Kerrlene Wills, Director for Ocean and Climate, UN Climate Foundation.

That could grow by as much as 50% by the middle of this century if stronger action isn't taken, experts have warned.

The shipping industry's current plans only envisage a halving of emissions by the middle of this century, a commitment that scientists say is far out of line with the Paris climate agreement.

This week, under the control of the UN's International Maritime Organisation (IMO), delegates from 175 shipping countries will meet in London to try and agree on a new timeline for completely decarbonising their industry.

Campaigners want to see a much tougher target, with a reduction of approximately half by 2030 and a new net-zero goal for 2050. Others want to go further still and see a full decarbonisation brought forward to 2040.

"If member states get this right, they can set the shipping sector in line to meet the Paris temperature targets and promote investment in green technologies that will completely transform the sector," said Kerrlene Wills, Director for Ocean and Climate, UN Climate Foundation.

cover photo:A ship carrying trucks sails from China - shipping is responsible for transporting around 90% of the world's goods