London, Jul 3 (PTI) : India on Monday asked the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) to focus on a realistic target to ensure that net zero carbon fuels occupy 5 per cent of the Marine fuel mix by 2030, without any additional checkpoints during this explorative and take-off period.
During the plenary of the 80th session of the Maritime Environmental Protection Committee of the IMO here, Indian delegate Ajithkumar Sukumaran, Chief Surveyor-Cum-Additional DG, Ministry of Shipping, said, “any unrealistic target will place undue pressure on the governments to resort to flawed policies, industry to make haste and unsustainable investments, and the research to push through half-cooked and immature technological solutions – all of them will have long term, irreparable repercussions on this industry.” That is why India, which falls under the extremely risky category in the climate change vulnerability index, had submitted an MEPC document, proposing a way forward for the reduction strategy to be phased in progressively while ensuring the transition is smooth, achievable and inclusive, without leaving anyone behind.
While taking a positive stand on the proposal for a financial levy on Greenhouse gas emissions, India said that the motive behind such measures should not be one with an aim to penalise the industry but to encourage the transition to green energy.