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By Jonathan Saul LONDON, Nov 17 (Reuters) \u2013 The United Nations shipping agency on Tuesday approved measures to boost energy efficiency in vessels as part of efforts to reduce the industry\u2019s carbon footprint, a UN spokeswoman said.<\/p>\n
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Countries approved the additional regulations to reduce the carbon intensity of commercial ships at this week\u2019s virtual Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) session<\/a> of the International Maritime Organization (IMO).<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Green groups opposed the approval, saying it would allow the shipping sector\u2019s share of emissions to keep rising over the next decade, when limiting global warming to less than 2 degrees Celsius, in line with the 2015 Paris climate accord, requires greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) to be halved.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThe IMO has decided that emissions can keep on growing for 10 years at least. Their complacency is breathtaking,\u201d John Maggs of the Clean Shipping Coalition said.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The measures, which aim to reduce the carbon intensity of existing ships, add to already agreed energy efficiency regulations for new vessels and aim to reduce the carbon intensity of international shipping by 40% by 2030 compared with 2008 levels.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The IMO has said it aims to reduce overall greenhouse gas emissions from ships by 50%<\/a> from 2008 levels by 2050, but is under pressure to speed up action.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n