US Congress members urge Biden to issue EO on maritime decarbonisation

US Congresswoman Nanette Barragán recently led 15 Members of Congress in a letter to US President Joe Biden, urging his administration to issue an Executive Order to support the decarbonisation of the maritime industry. 

Greenhouse gas emissions from international shipping are projected to increase, and it’s critical that the federal government take action to reduce emissions and address the pollution impacts that shipping has on environmental justice communities. 

The Members wrote: “We want to thank you for leadership in addressing the global climate crisis and for the actions you have already taken to make sure that the United States cuts all greenhouse gas emissions from the transportation sector by 2050.”

“We now ask that you build on these commitments by issuing an Executive Order to spark innovation and open opportunities for decarbonising the maritime sector and future-proof this critical component of our supply chains.”

“We strongly urge your Administration to make this Executive Order effective, actionable, and equitable by including specific, time-bound actions and creating and maintaining high-quality jobs and advancing environmental justice.”

The letter includes several recommendations that the President should include in an Executive Order to help decarbonise the maritime industry:

• Use existing Clean Air Act authority to establish a goal-based fuel standard for ships calling on US ports.
• Use existing authorities to eliminate in-port ship emissions by 2030.
• Immediately establish a monitoring, reporting, and verification mechanism to collect fuel consumption and emissions data from all ships that traverse US waters and use US ports, building a baseline for emissions management.
• Direct resources toward the electrification and quieting of the US federal ferry and harbour craft fleet.
• Support US shipbuilders and maritime stakeholders to build low- and zero-emission and quiet marine vessels.
• Support the development, demonstration, and value chains of zero-emission alternative fuels and technologies for the maritime sector.
• Phase out and ban the use of sulphur scrubbers on ships in US waters.

“The Biden administration has already made significant commitments to eliminate emissions from the shipping industry, but there is more that can be done immediately through executive action,” said Carrie Bonfield, Ocean Conservancy’s U.S. Policy Manager, Shipping Emissions. 

“With the support of 60 organisations, eight industry organisations, over 24,000 members of the public and now members of Congress, we urge the Biden administration to issue an executive order with these seven recommendations immediately.”

“There is no time to waste: we must get to work eliminating emissions from the maritime sector if we are to meet our climate goals and protect the public from these harmful pollutants.”

“We thank Representative Barragan and all the Congressional leaders who joined on this letter calling for President Biden to issue an executive order on shipping decarbonisation.” 

Representative Barragán was joined on the letter by Representatives Suzanne Bonamici, Adriano Espaillat, Robert Garcia, Jimmy Gomez, Jared Huffman, Pramila Jayapal, Barbara Lee, Doris Matsui, Kevin Mullin, Chellie Pingree, Katie Porter, Delia Ramirez, Mark Takano, Shri Thanedar, and Rashida Tlaib.

Photo credit: william william on Unsplash
Published: 30 July 2024