ShareThis
LONDON (Thomson Reuters Point Carbon) - The international maritime sector remains firmly in the U.N's cross-hairs when it comes to finding cash to fill a global fund to help poor countries tackle climate change.
U.N. climate talks last week agreed the design of a Global Climate Fund to channel up to $100 billion a year by 2020 to poorer nations, but failed to make headway on where the money will come from to fill it.
While a proposal to tax global shipping was dropped at the last minute at the talks in Durban, industry watchers say enough political momentum has built up and shipping will very likely become the fund's first source of financing.
"The writing is on the wall. Every independent report into innovate sources of finance for the GCF mentions revenues for the international maritime sector," said Andre Stochniol, a consultant on sustainable shipping.
Shipping is seen as a clear target because it is not yet regulated under any international climate regime and is a new source of revenue that would not drain public purses of cash-strapped governments, he said.
"It is quite clear this is the most talked about idea as a potential source of revenue for the fund," agreed Lies Craeynest, EU climate change policy advisory at aid group Oxfam.
"Just because it was not in the final text (in Durban) does not mean it is off the agenda and we are hoping to see some real progress next year," she said, adding that shipping's inclusion in a draft U.N. text was a sign of progress.
During the Durban talks, the UK's climate minister Chris Huhne said a levy on shipping fuel or aviation emissions would be the "preferred option" to raise part of the fund's target compared to other proposals such as a tax on financial transactions.
"I think the bunker fuels route is much more likely to be successful," he said.
IMPASSE EASE
Complete Post at:
http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/12/16/us-carbon-shipping-idUSTRE7BF1DU20111216
No comments:
Post a Comment