The Secretary General of the Shipowners' Association International Chamber of Shipping (ICS), Guy Platten, expressed confidence that an increasing number of nations within the International Maritime Organization (IMO) recognize the validity of the proposal to create a fund for the decarbonization of shipping, which a few weeks ago had 47 governments have joined ( of 9 January 2025). A proposal that the ICS believes can obtain further consensus in the context of the meeting scheduled for the next week of the Intersessional Working Group on Reduction of IMO Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions from Ships (ISWG-GHG).

"We are encouraged by the fact - explained Platten today - that there are now 51 co-sponsors, including the European Commission and the ICS, of the joint proposal which provides for a specific text to support for a GHG pricing mechanism tax-based, with ships paying annual fees for tonne of CO2 equivalent emitted to a proposed Fund for the implementation of the IMO Greenhouse Gas Strategy. It is clear - noted the Secretary General of the ICS - that governments are increasingly recognising that a tax-based fund and on a compensation mechanism, complemented by an IMO standard on fuels, is the best way to go".

"The next week - Platten noted - some difficult discussions as some Member States are not yet fully prepared to engage, but the reality is that only through a global solution will we achieve our net-zero emissions targets. We believe that the proposal for now supported by governments headed by a large majority of the world's maritime tonnage, and by the global maritime industry, provide the best and most pragmatic to decarbonise maritime transport quickly and on a large scale. The shipping industry - concluded Platten - wants a simple, transparent and fair system that can be implemented quickly and efficiently".