Carbon tax on shipping among ITF’s recommendations ahead of UN climate change conference

A carbon tax for the shipping sector, an absolute emissions target and more responsibility for the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) are among the recommendations outlined in a policy brief published by the International Transport Forum (ITF), a politically independent part of the OECD.

The report, authored by Olaf Merk, administrator of ports and shipping at the ITF, was published in preparation for the UN Framework Convention of Climate Change (UNFCCC) 21^st Conference of Parties (COP21), to be held in Paris, France, in December 2015.

According to Merk, the reduction of shipping emissions would “gain huge impetus” if COP21 would agree to a package that included the outlined recommendations for the shipping sector.