News
The European Union (EU) has reaffirmed its support for the International Maritime Organization (IMO)’s Net-Zero Framework, defying stark warnings from the U.S. administration that nations supporting the measure could face punitive economic countermeasures. “The EU views the Net-Zero Framework as a significant milestone and calls for its adoption at IMO next week,” said the EU.
The IMO’s extraordinary session started yesterday and is scheduled to remain in session until Friday. Member states are expected to vote on adopting the Net-Zero Framework—a carbon-pricing regime targeting the international shipping sector.
On behalf of its 27 member states, the EU has become a core backer of the Net-Zero Framework, but signs are being shown of divisions among some of them due to differences in position.
Despite threats from the U.S., the EU has stressed that it is important to organize international cooperation to address climate change and that it is necessary for the IMO to impose a global carbon levy for a sustainable shipping industry.
Meanwhile, the U.S. has harshly criticized the IMO levy, calling it “European-led neo-colonial export of global climate regulations,” and threatened that it will impose financial penalties and other sanctions to the vessels of governments, flat states, owners, operators and other authorities that support it.
