After a climate-driven review of its memberships, leading ocean carrier Maersk recently announced its withdrawal from the board of the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) over disagreements over climate policy. The decision was announced at an ICS annual general meeting held on June 22. ICS is one of the world's leading associations of shipowners, representing approximately 80 percent of global trade tonnage through membership.

The Danish container giant has instead decided to put its power and resources behind the liner shipping lobby group, the World Shipping Council (WSC), which is reportedly pushing a more aggressive emissions reduction agenda.

ICS' stance on decarbonisation, in which it proposes to keep carbon regulation at the IMO (International Maritime Organization), and the slow progress in limiting greenhouse gas emissions since the Paris climate agreement seems to reflect Maersk's move and subsequent change. provoked in fidelity. Earlier this year, Maersk announced its goal of achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions across the company by 2040, which is a decade ahead of its original 2050 goal.

In a statement shared by Maersk, the company noted: "We survey our memberships once a year to ensure that the trade organizations we belong to are lobbying in line with the goals of the Paris Agreement and other critical issues. That's why we assess or their approach and efforts reflect our attitudes and values.A result of the 2022 process is our decision to support the strengthening of the [carrier-focused World Shipping Council] and allocate internal resources to it.Our choice to withdraw from the ICS board should also be seen in this context. Polyphonic by definition, industry associations are always an expression of compromise between their members. As such, Maersk will not always be 100% aligned with their views and will retain it, just like any other member , his ability to follow a different path."

Meanwhile, Maersk will continue to be a member of Danish Shipping - an ICS member association - as well as BIMCO, the Getting to Zero Coalition, WSC and the A.P. Maersk-McKinney Moller Center for Zero Carbon Shipping, among other initiatives.