Introduction

Emissions from aviation and marine 'bunker' fuels form a significant part of the global climate problem – almost 10%.

The Kyoto Protocol assigned responsibility for reducing bunker greenhouse gas emissions to developed (Annex 1) countries working through the UN agencies ICAO and IMO.

Studies and discussions have followed over the ensuing almost 12 years but neither agency has agreed one single binding measure to control them.

ICAO has actively ruled out the most obvious measures. IMO has focused on technical discussion around standards. Debate in both organisations is now deadlocked over whether any measures should be global or differentiated.

Developed countries want global measures so as to avoid competitive distortion. Such an approach is also consistent with the principles of equal treatment which ICAO and IMO have historically followed in other areas.

Influential developing countries, however, insist that the principle guiding action on global climate change is that of common but differentiated responsibilities which means that responsibility to take mitigating action rests with developed countries.

Governments meet in Copenhagen in December 2009 to agree on additional measures needed to address climate change and on new greenhouse gas mitigation targets and provisions under the Kyoto Protocol.

ICAO and IMO are striving to demonstrate that they have made progress on climate change and just need some more time. Many governments are frustrated at the inaction and are starting to press for the Copenhagen agreement to reshape the framework for addressing bunker emissions by itself setting reduction targets and specifying the nature of necessary measures and timelines.

NGOs are maintaining pressure on ICAO and IMO to act now as they are the expert bodies to deal with matters which involve complex industry issues with a potentially significant economic impact. But if these efforts fail – and chances don't look good – NGOs will press for Copenhagen to take action.

Find out more

• FAQ:Aviation and shipping emissions at Copenhagen
• Factsheet: Aviation and shipping emissions in the run-up to Copenhagen
• Factsheet: the carbon footprint of shipping
• Report: How ICAO and the IMO failed the climate change test
• Latest news and publications on aviation and climate change
• Latest news and publications on shipping and climate change