IMERS International Maritime Emission Reduction Scheme

IMERS was debated as a pragmatic approach to address shipping emissions at the Latin America Carbon Forum, 24 - 26 June, in Panama. The presentation, Beyond Offsetting of Emissions from International Transport, is available .
The approach has been praised by number of participants as a way to reconcile the needs of reducing global shipping emissions with the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities under the climate convention.
All presentations will be available shortly at the Forum website.

Our differentiated levy to finance climate change action was supported at the side event on day 1 of the Bonn Climate Change Talks - June 2009, entitled: Equitable Financing & Reducing Emissions from International Transport. Event flyer | Fact Sheet | Presentation .
Following opposition of major developing countries to uniform levies, we suggest to modify paragraph 173d of the LCA negotiating text to:
A market-driven levy on emissions from international maritime transport applicable to ships carrying goods to developed countries. (initially)

IMERS is recommended by a task force comprising former heads of state, leaders from government, business, and civil society from more than 20 countries in a report Facilitating an International Agreement on Climate Change: Adaptation to Climate Change (3.4 MB).
The report, issued on 9 June 2009, by Global Leadership for Climate Action (GLCA), a partnership of the Club of Madrid and the United Nations Foundation (UNF), sets fourth innovative recommendations to enable, finance, and govern global adaptation measures.

The results of our recent 3-week-long consultations in the USA are very promising. They were debated at a special side event at the Bonn Climate Change Talks on June 1, desrcibed under @ Bonn 2009.
Support for the differentiated scheme is growing (news: 10 June). The scheme will also address issues of carbon accounting for shipping. These have been highlighted in the just published report by the Environment Audit Committee in the UK, and in our testimony to the inquiry.

A global approach is viable & highly beneficial, providing it's common and differentiated. That was one key point in our testimony on Reducing CO2 emissions from shipping. You can listen: UK Parliament, Environmental Audit Committee (UK inquiry; official recording: Tuesday, Oct 21), or read below the transcript and/or the written submission .
The final, highly critical of inaction report is now available (2.3 MB).
For instance, the report states: "[...] it is no longer acceptable that is is too hard to find adequate basis for dealing with emissions from shipping."

IMERS was thoroughly debated at the UNCTAD expert meeting on Maritime Transport and the Climate Change Challege, in Geneva, 16 - 18 February. Our formal submission (0.2 Mb) and the presentation (0.3 Mb) were entitled:

• A levy on fuel for international shipping, which differentiates responsibilities between developed and developing countries

The potential of the IMERS scheme to generate $billions of financing for climate adaptation annually was officially presented and actively discussed at the Poznan Climate Change Conference, 1-12 December 2008. This included a high level roundtable opened by two UN Secretary General Special Envoys on Climate Change: Gro Brundtland and Ricardo Lagos.
How to deliver special debate took place on 9th Dec (Message from the Event )

IMERS: Winner of the Cool the Earth Idea Contest, Japan, 2008!
Andre Stochniol, IMERS' founder, won in the Governmental System/Policy Division (overseas) for:
Creating and obtaining international support for differentiated International Maritime Emission Reduction Scheme to halve maritime emissions and pay for improvements.

The deadlock on addresing GHG emissions from shipping through market-based instruments has not been resolved at the recent IMO MEPC 58th session, London, UK, 06 - 10 October 2008.

The new creative proposal to reconcile both Global and Differentiated approaches:

International maritime CO2 emissions accounts “only” for circa 3% of total emissions from fossil fuels. They are #6^*, if compared with the largest emitting nations. Their share share can more than double by 2050.
Action to reduce shipping CO2 emissions and contribute to tackle climate change can be ambitious yet affordable.