MEPC 83: Levy remains on the table – MCST

Support for a universal greenhouse gas (GHG) levy remains strong at the IMO’s MEPC 83 meeting, according to the Micronesian Center for Sustainable Transport.

PHOTO: IMO member state delegates at an MEPC meeting in London. IMO

The Micronesian Center for Sustainable Transport (MCST) is a Pacific islands-focused decarbonisation initiative launched by the Marshall Islands and the University of the South Pacific.

The 6PAC+ coalition – comprising Pacific and Caribbean island nations – along with other developing states, will continue to advocate for a $150/mtCO2-equivalent levy at the IMO meeting, said Albon Ishoda, ambassador of the Marshall Islands.

MCST added that more than half of ratifying member states supported a levy at the IMO’s technical committee meeting last week. But the chair of the GHG Working Group failed to “recognise the majority in support of this critical mechanism, and chose to work on the basis of his own bridging proposal.”

While the GHG Working Group agreed on a compromise text last week, MCST maintains that a GHG levy remains on the table in discussions towards an approval this week.

But the final GHG levy price level is still uncertain, and could be decided by the end of the week.

While the 6PAC+ alliance is pushing for the highest level, other proposed figures are $100/mtCO2e and $18.75/mtCO2e, and are backed by various member states.

Countries including Brazil, China and the UAE have opposed a levy altogether.

“The UK indicated openness to parts of the Pacific-backed text. The United States remained largely silent until the end, expressing concern about fairness and scope,” MCST said.

By Konica Bhatt

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