Marine Environment Protection Committee wants fuel levy in Caribbean

The Caribbean nations came together to agree on a fuel levy in order to reduce Greenhouse gas emissions in the region. The call was raised by the officials during the Marine Environment Protection Committee on Monday, 30 September.

The Marine Environment Protection Committee is formed by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO). The committee was joined by the island nations of St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent, Trinidad and Tobago, Antigua and Barbuda, Belize, Barbados, Dominica, and Jamaica.

The agenda of the fuel levy is part of the International Maritime Organisation’s mid-term measures to handle harmful emissions. The intention of the collaboration of Caribbean nations is to focus on the shipping emissions and impose a universal fuel levy.

The Caribbean officials with the Marine Environment Protection Committee want to ensure the proportionate distribution of carbon emissions over all the sources. The approach is part of the commitment made by the island nations to protect the environment.

The island countries, jointly with the International Maritime Organisation, are trying to distribute the responsibility to stop the emission in such a manner that could help in assisting Least Developed Countries. This could help them to adapt to climate change and other related issues.

One of the key factors related to the formation of the Marine Environment Protection Committee in the Caribbean is supporting research and development of new fuels. The other related factors are the improvement of port infrastructure in the region, funding seafarer training, among other initiatives, and helping shipowners to retrofit vessels.

In the gathering of officials at the Marine Environment Protection Committee, Bertrand Smith also joined the meeting and shared his words. Smith is the serving Director General of the Maritime Authority of Jamaica.

In the gathering hosted by the International Maritime Organisation, Bertrand Smith said, “In the Caribbean, we already pay some 7.5 per cent higher freight rates. Revenue from a mandatory levy should be used to help with resilience in relation to climate change.”

He also added, “Here in the Caribbean, we are already feeling the impacts of climate change with extreme weather occurrences, such as the recent hurricane Beryl, which are becoming more frequent. We know first-hand what we are up against, and we are committed to working together to protect our oceans and world for future generations.”

The Caribbean nations, as members of the Marine Environment Protection Committee, the Caribbean nations discussed multiple relevant topics in the meeting. The topics were related to tackling the challenges occurring with climate change along with the fuel levy.

The discussion was initiated with the opening remarks of the Secretary General of the International Maritime Organisation, Arsenio Dominguez. As the Caribbean nationals are looking forward to their agenda, nations like China and Brazil have raised disagreements on this approach. The nagotiations are going on.