With 11 billion tonnes of goods traded internationally by sea every year, shipping accounts for around 3% of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. This is more than commercial aviation, for example, which is responsible for 2.6% of the planet’s emissions. Despite this, shipping is often overlooked when considering the overall carbon neutrality of our societies.
Numerous voices, from the South and the North, are calling for the introduction of a carbon tax on maritime transport, a sector currently exempt from the Kyoto Protocol and therefore untaxed. Such a tax would align with the objective of setting a uniform global carbon price, and would be based on the “polluter pays” principle, where the cost is borne by those whose behaviour generates emissions. It would thus be fair. It would generate revenues that could be used to finance climate change adaptation and mitigation policies, while modifying behaviours and reducing emissions.
