Question. Lords, uh, last week in London, only 49 of the 127 delegates, that's something just about a third, voted for the net zero framework. Does the minister agree with me that the IMO would be well advised to focus a little bit more time in the interregnum on things like the uninsured dark fleet, unwinding the insanity where the charterer pays the ship owners ballast legs and not penalizing those large ships which are significantly more fuel efficient than the small ones per freight ton.
Answer. I recognize the noble lord has extensive experience, but I think that he must agree that the subject under discussion, which is the decision to defer last week, is far from the only thing that the International Maritime Organization does. Some of the things he's listed are, of course, very important and I've no doubt that we will press the IMO not only to move forward with the decarbonization agenda, but also deal with those things on his list.
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Question. My lord, these really important negotiations were effectively torpedoed by the Trump administration using quite unpleasant tactics at the last moment. So, can I take this opportunity to ask the minister what reassessment the UK government is making of how we can further our international climate objectives with those who support us in the wake of a more hostile American administration?
Answer. If we're to play the role that we should in the IMO, then we have to respect the policy positions of other IMO member states. That means working with people who support our position, trying to persuade those who don't that they're wrong and we and they should change. And that's precisely what we will continue to do with new vigor following last week's decision.
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Question. My lords, following up on the noble's point the Trump administration unequivocally rejected the net zero framework, but it went much further than that. It issued warnings on measures it could take against countries voting against the framework, including blocking vessels from US ports, imposing new regulation and extra visa restrictions, and applying commercial penalties on government contracts. What is the minister's reaction to this kind of pressure?
Answer. My reaction to that sort of pressure is that
we're a member of the IMO. We're an important member. We need to persuade others
to support us. And following last Friday's decision, we will renew our efforts
with those who also support us to persuade people who don't agree with us that
this is the right thing for international shipping. It's the right thing for low
carbon. We have an important place in the world and we need to pursue those arguments
at the IMO and outside it in order to make progress.