Maersk Unhappy with COP21 Climate Deal

 

The Danish shipping giant wants to see shipping back in the final draft of the COP21 agreement.

 

John Kornerup Bang, the chief climate advisor at Maersk, explained that the company had hoped that the agreement would also include global requirements of the shipping industry, but that this was omitted from the final agreement.

 

“We are disappointed that it didn’t end up in the final agreement,” he said.“For a long time we have pushed for global regulation, but this has unfortunately not happened.”

 

Regarding the consequences for the industry, John stated: “Our concern is more in the longer term where shipping might not get the right regulation to be helped into a much lower carbon future. Other modes are switching, even towards gas or electricity.”

 

Maersk argues that international regulation is inevitable and that a lack thereof simply encourages shipping lines to sail under the flags of countries with the least stringent rules.

 

According to Maersk, shipping’s reputation will take a hit due to the potential slow transition to carbon savings, leaving it exposed in the long run to more pro-active industries.

 

John draws attention to Maersk Line’s investment in more energy-efficient vessels and states that international environmental regulation would give the company a competitive advantage.

 

“It would definitely be an advantage for us. We believe that it is important that those that are green and effective be rewarded. That’s the only way to make them bigger,” he said.

 

As per Maersk's published motto: "We strive to promote energy efficiency and CO2 reductions across the industries in which we work, and focus our efforts on where we can reap the greatest benefits, namely within our shipping activities which are responsible for more than 80% of the Group’s CO2 emissions."