During the coronavirus pandemic, people have become more actively engaged in shopping, which is why the amount of marine supplies has increased, Bloomberg reports. The climatic catastrophe has become closer due to the growth of emissions produced by cargo ships.
Sitting locked up during a pandemic, consumers ordered everything – from washing machines to exercise bikes. In this regard, the request for maritime freight has increased. Due to the increase in the number of orders of the vessel, carrying goods, began to walk at a higher speed, burning more fuel.
At the same time, as the agency indicates, an increase in shipping emissions occurs at the moment when the world faces a lack of natural gas, which forces electricity producers around the world to use more “dirty” coal and even fuel oil.
At the same time, the head of the shipping division in Cargill Yang Dieleman (Jan Dieleman) notes that a significant increase in emissions will not occur, since the industry is invested in fuel economy technology.
Shipping accounts for about three percent of world emissions – more than France and UK combined. The current goal of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) is to reduce pollution at least 50 percent to 2050. Currently discussed how to achieve this.
Among the proposals – the CO2 tax, the creation of a fund of research and development for five billion dollars, as well as the use of an emission quota trading scheme. However, the progress towards the goal is slow, since the IMO as an international body must be lavailed between the competing interests of all countries.