The International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) has again stressed the importance of unilateral international agreements given the global nature of the industry and as a key outcome of the Rio +20 summit.

 

The ICS presented its views on delivering worldwide green growth on behalf of its merchant shipowner members, who represent over 80% of the world merchant fleet, at an 'Oceans Day' event hosted during the United Nations 'Rio+20' Summit on Sustainable Development in Brazil on Saturday (June 16).

Shipping is "by far the greenest form of commercial transport" ICS Regulatory Affairs Director, David Tongue, told Rio + 20 delegates. "Shipping carries about 90% of world trade and produces between 40 and 100 times less CO2, per tonne of cargo moved one kilometre than cargo aviation and significantly less than trains and trucks" according to the ICS presentation.

Tongue claimed that shipping will deliver a 20% improvement in energy efficiency by 2020 as it is the only industrial sector already to be covered by a binding international agreement for the further reduction of CO2 emissions.

He added: "Other international sectors concerned with the Oceans could learn a great deal from the way in which the UN International Maritime Organization successfully regulates shipping."

 

Image source: http://www.futureagenda.org/pg/cx/view#374