UN Deal On Shipping Emissions - Only On New Ships, Would Phase In After 2019

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New ships will have to meet internationally agreed carbon dioxide emission standards, thanks to a deal agreed in London last week. But only from 2019. And there are no plans to extend the rules to existing ships. The agreement, reached at the UN's International Maritime Organization, comes after years of negotiations. It is a rare step forward for climate negotiators at a time when an overall deal on global carbon emissions looks ever more remote.

Of the world's top 10 shipping nations, only China voted against. The other objectors were Brazil, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Chile. It remains to be seen if they will bow to the majority decision.

The deal makes the shipping industry the first to introduce global mandatory CO2 standards. It requires all new ships above 400 tonnes and delivered after 2015 to improve their energy efficiency by 10 per cent. The target rises to 30 per cent by 2024. However, a loophole means developing nations can apply for a waiver until 2019.

The IMO said that if no waivers applied, the deal could reduce emissions by between 45 and 50 million tonnes a year by 2020. A coalition of environmental groups, the Clean Shipping Coalition, warned the agreement could result in most new ships registering with countries that get a waiver.

EDIT

http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn20713-shipping-industry-agrees-co2-emission-standards.html