A story by Joseph Winters tells the tale of a new carbon tax introduced within the shipping industry and questions if it’s enough to combat emissions. Shipping is prevalent across the world and the primary backbone of logistics across oceans causes about 3 percent of the world’s climate pollution, comparable to the same amount generated by aviation. As part of the the United Nations, the International Maritime Organization introduced the world’s first sector-wide carbon tax for shipping companies to meet certain greenhouse gas standards. A failure to do so would require said companies to pay for the shortfall; a move widely appreciated by island nations and environmental nonprofits. While many had hoped for a more stringent policy, modelling however shows a reduction of about 8 to 10 percent of the industry’s climate pollution, a lag from the IMO’s own goal of 20 to 30 percent. Join Joseph Winters as they shine light on the new policy and what it means for both international shipping and the climate.
Photo: Gordon Leggett via Wikimedia Commons
