The European Union is joining the US, UK, Costa Rica and Norway's push for zero-emissions shipping by 2050.

In a submission ahead of November's International Maritime Organization Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) meeting, all 27 EU member states and the European Commission voiced their support for a proposal from last month calling for the complete elimination of carbon within the next 30 years.

As it stands, the IMO is targeting a 40% reduction in CO2 emissions by 2030 and a 50% cut in greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

"The co-sponsors are of the view that the review of the initial IMO strategy should be
launched swiftly," the EU submission read.

"This should be done with the aim of increasing its level of ambition and reducing GHG emissions from international shipping as soon as possible, in line with the Paris Agreement goals.

"This is necessary to send a clear signal to the market and to further stimulate the production, deployment and uptake of renewable and zero- and low-carbon fuels and
technologies worldwide."

The 2030 and 2050 goals were reiterated in June at the MEPC's last meeting, over objections from Pacific island states, the US and EU.

The US, together with Costa Rica, the UK and Norway, submitted a proposal on 17 September, arguing the 2050 goal should be more ambitious and include more near-term mandates.

Review sought

It wants the MEPC to review the strategy over its next three meetings.

"These [current] levels of ambition are inconsistent with a trajectory towards zero emissions in 2050, which is needed in order to achieve the temperature goals of the Paris Agreement, and the broader need to decarbonise all sectors of the global economy by 2050 and must be updated accordingly," the quartet said in its submission.

The EU's submission said that in light of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change's (IPCC) August report suggesting the Earth was warming faster than previously thought made taking action more pressing.

The report said the faster warming would make it more difficult to limit warming to 1.5C, as the Paris Agreement calls for.

"The science makes clear that to achieve the very low emissions scenario considered by the IPCC, which would limit temperature rise in 2100 to 1.5 degrees Celsius, total CO2 emissions from all sectors must peak immediately, undergo deep reductions in the 2020s and reach at least net zero by 2050," the EU said.