Corporate Capture of the IMO?
A new study published by U.K.-based InfluenceMap has accused prominent shipping industry organizations of aggressive lobbying to obstruct climate change action.
The report claims corporations have unmatched power to shape regulations at the United Nations’ shipping body, the International Maritime Organization (IMO).
The report – Corporate capture of the IMO – has been timed for release to coincide with the start of the next round of IMO climate talks kicking off this week.
"Despite being responsible for close to 3 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions, the shipping sector remains outside of the UN Paris Climate Agreement. A 2015 European Parliament report estimated that shipping could be responsible for 17 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 if left unregulated, potentially jeopardizing global ambitions set out under the Paris Agreement," the report said.
According to the report, progress on regulation has been stalled by shipping trade associations such as the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS), BIMCO and the World Shipping Council leading efforts to oppose action on climate change at the IMO.
This research has further uncovered that at the most recent IMO environmental committee meeting 31 percent of nations were represented in part by direct business interests. The IMO appears to be the only UN agency to allow such extensive corporate representation in the policy-making process, the report found.
