https://www.bbc.com/news/business-56835352 BBC Homepage * Skip to content * Accessibility Help * BBC Account * Home * News * Sport * Reel * Worklife * Travel * Future * Culture * MenuMore Search * Home * News * Sport * Reel * Worklife * Travel * Future * Culture * Music * TV * Weather * Sounds Close menu BBC News Menu * Home * Coronavirus * Video * World * US & Canada * UK * Business * Tech * Science * Stories * Entertainment & Arts More * Health * In Pictures * Reality Check * World News TV * Newsbeat * Long Reads * Business * Market Data * New Economy * New Tech Economy * Companies * Entrepreneurship * Technology of Business * Economy * CEO Secrets * Global Car Industry * Business of Sport Climate change: Shipping industry calls for new global carbon tax By Jonathan Josephs Business reporter, BBC News Published 5 hours ago Share close Share page Copy link About sharing Related Topics * Climate change container ship at seaimage copyrightVCG / Getty Images image captionThe shipping industry wants global agreement on a new carbon tax The global shipping industry is calling on the world's governments to tax its carbon emissions. Groups that represent more than 90% of the global fleet say the measure is needed to tackle climate change. "A global solution is the only one that's going to work", Guy Platten, secretary-general of the International Chamber of Shipping told the BBC. The tax would incentivise ship owners to invest in new technology, he said. The shipping sector is one of the big carbon emitters, and is responsible for more than 2% of global emissions. If the industry was a country it would be the sixth biggest polluter, above Germany. * Climate change: UK to speed up target to cut carbon emissions * Summit aims for clean-up of shipping industry While shipping was not directly included in the Paris climate change agreement the sector has been making efforts to clean up its act. Need to cut emissions A recognition of this need to change led the UN agency that regulates shipping, the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), to target cuts in greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. However, this plan was criticised by environment groups which said the plan will see emissions from ships grow for several decades. There have been other efforts, including the development of a $5bn fund to develop carbon free shipping technology. But now the industry wants all governments to impose "a price on carbon" to give ship owners a commercial imperative to change, says Mr Platten. * Summit aims for clean-up of shipping industry * $5bn fund unveiled for climate-friendly shipping * Maersk: Consumers can foot shipping's climate bill A worldwide carbon pricing scheme would need to be negotiated through the IMO. A group led by the ICS has asked the agency for discussions to start "as soon as possible and before 2023, with a view to taking some decisions". Guy Platten, Secretary General of the International Chamber of Shipping image captionImplementing a new tax will be complex, says Guy Platten, secretary-general of the International Chamber of Shipping Complex process to agree As well as the ICS, the call has backing from the shipowner's organisation Bimco, Cruise Lines International Association and the World Shipping Council. The timeline is a recognition that this will be a complex process that is likely to take at least two years to enact. Such a tax will almost certainly lead to extra costs for shipping companies that will be passed on to their customers, which could be problematic for export dependent economies. Cargo ships at the Port of Los Angelesimage copyrightGetty Images image captionDemand for consumer goods means shipping firms will need to invest in green technology Mr Platten said: "We need to reassure governments who, perhaps from the more remote places, feel that their supply chains might be disrupted because shipping becomes more expensive". That is likely to filter through to consumers. The boss of the world's biggest shipping company, Maersk, recently told the BBC the cost of tackling climate change in the industry would "translate into something like six cents per pair of sneakers". Tax ideas Amid concern that rising sea levels threaten the future of their countries, the Pacific nations of the Marshall Islands and Solomon Islands are calling on the IMO to introduce a $100 per tonne levy on greenhouse gas emissions. This is seen as ambitious by some and it's not clear what shape a carbon tax on the shipping industry will take. It would also have a bigger impact on smaller shipping companies who are likely to struggle more with the costs of new, cleaner technology. Cargo ship docking at Felixstoweimage copyrightGetty Images image captionBodies representing more than 90% of the global shipping fleet back a carbon tax Mr Platten said: "It's complex, it needs to be a global solution, and not regional solutions, as has been mooted by various places around the world. So that's why we're calling for this discussion to start now." Discussions could begin at an IMO meeting in June. Professor Alan McKinnon of Germany's Kuehne Logistics University says these long-debated market-based measures are needed to cut shipping emissions. "They would certainly give all the maritime stakeholders a much stronger financial incentive to decarbonise the sector," he said. John Kerryimage copyrightAFP image captionUS climate envoy John Kerry visited several Asian countries this month ahead of President Biden's summit Growing US influence The call for a new tax comes on the eve of a major climate change event that is being hosted by the US: the Leaders Summit on Climate Change. Speaking on Tuesday, President Biden's special envoy for climate change John Kerry said: "The US is committing to work with countries in the IMO to adopt the goal of achieving net zero emissions from international shipping by no later than 2050." This follows a broader commitment by the world's biggest economy to use trade as a tool to tackle climate change. That influence could be key to getting the international agreement a new carbon tax on shipping will need. Professor McKinnon, one of the authors of a 2014 report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), said: "Although the proportion of the world's fleet of cargo vessels registered in the US is relatively small, the country can help to drive down the carbon intensity of global shipping in other ways." "In addition to the US exerting political influence as a key member of the IMO, its ports and businesses could require vessels to meet higher environmental standards. "The US government's pursuit of net zero shipping by 2050 now makes the IMO's 2018 target of a 50% reduction in emissions between 2008 and 2050 look distinctly unambitious" he added. Related Topics * Carbon footprint * Paris climate agreement * Joe Biden * John Kerry * Shipping industry * United States * Global trade * United Nations * Climate change More on this story * Government to speed up UK climate change target Published 1 day ago * Maersk: Consumers can foot shipping's climate bill Published 19 February Top Stories * US launches federal probe into Minneapolis police The justice department announces probe into city police practices after George Floyd murder verdict. 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