The biggest trade groups in shipping - Bimco, Intercargo, International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) and Intertanko – filed a formal proposal on targets on limiting carbon dioxide emissions from the shipping industry ahead of the next International Maritime Organisation meeting on environmental rules.

At the same time, the groups acknowledged that these targets are “aspirational,” and “non-binding in character.”

Since the Paris climate accord does not include legally binding requirements for states to limit CO2 emissions, the groups says “the same approach should be adopted by IMO with response to developing CO2 reduction objectives on behalf on international shipping.”