IMERS International Maritime Emission Reduction Scheme

The debate on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from ships was highly contentious, once more, at the IMO MEPC 60 session. IUCN submitted a proposal for an innovative rebate mechanism, based on our work. The proposal (MEPC 60/4/55) , which aims to reconcile the principles of the UNFCCC and IMO, was welcomed but not debated. MEPC agreed to establish an Expert Group on Market Based Measures (MBM-EG) to study it, among other proposals.

The United Nations Climate Change Conference 2009 (COP 15) did not succeed in addressing emissions from international aviation and maritime transport.
To contribute to the ongoing negotiations the proposal for Innovative Financing and IMERS was clarified and debated at the official COP15 side event, 9 Dec, 2009, Bella Center, Copenhagen.
Presentation is available (0.4 MB).

The latest version of IMERS was well received by many delegations at the UNFCCC climate change negotiations (28 Sept - 09 Oct, 2009). Three weeks later it was disclosed publicly in Singapore (0.4 MB).
Our proposal has also been included in recommendations for negotiators distributed in Bangkok. The recommedations came from a task force comprising former heads of state, leaders from government, business and civil society in a report Toward a Post-2012 Agreement on Climate Change: Recommendations (1 MB).

The founder of IMERS is the winner of the Environmental Awareness in Shipping Award, Sustainable Shipping Awards, 2009. The award is for: A major contribution to raising awareness on how shipping can improve it's environmental record.
Andre received the award at an award ceremony in London on July 15. Over 150 industry experts from across the globe gathered to celebrate those companies and individuals who have made a significant difference in helping to reduce the carbon footprint of shipping.

Addressing simulatenously shipping emissions and financing climate action in developing countries is the best chance of progress. This is our view in a guest commentary: Two birds with one stone , published in the Carbon Market Europe, by Point Carbon (in the context of the IMO MEPC 59 session, 13-17 July, in London).
The approach was recently debated as a way forward at the Latin American Carbon Forum, 24 - 26 June, in Panama. The presentation, Beyond Offsetting of Emissions from International Transport, is available .

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 (effectively).

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."

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 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