Following the EU and many island states, the two largest flag states are now also calling for the introduction of a global CO₂ tax on shipping.
Panama and Liberia, two of the countries with the largest shipping registers, support the proposal to tax shipping emissions globally. Together with 41 other countries, they are among the signatories of a corresponding appeal to the IMO.
A CO2 levy is one of the big issues this year. In April, the Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) will meet at the IMO to discuss the issue again at its 83rd session.
More than 40 of the 175 IMO member states are voting in favour of global taxation, including the EU countries, including Germany, the UK, the three largest flag states Panama, Liberia and the Marshall Islands, as well as a number of African countries.
Their aim is to find a common template for a new chapter in Annex VI of the MARPOL Convention and to adopt a legally binding levy on greenhouse gas emissions from shipping. CO₂ pricing should apply by 2027 at the latest and help to reduce emissions in shipping to zero by 2050.
“This levy is not only an effective mechanism to reduce emissions, but also an important tool to create a level playing field,” said Albon Ishoda, Special Representative of the Marshall Islands.
The countries that have committed to the levy include: Austria, Bahamas, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kenya, Latvia, Liberia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Marshall Islands, Montenegro, Netherlands, Nigeria, Palau, Panama, Poland, Portugal, South Korea, Romania, Seychelles, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Spain, Sweden, Tonga, Tuvalu, Ukraine, United Kingdom and Vanuatu.
