IMO green transition decisions affect households, not just shipowners
Shipping-related decisions at the International Maritime Organization (IMO) on the green transition do not concern shipowners alone, but have a direct impact on energy, food and product prices, ultimately affecting Greek households, Minister of Maritime Affairs and Insular Policy Vassilis Kikilias said in an interview with Skai TV.
“80%-90% of global trade is carried by sea. Therefore, any additional burden on shipping arising from the green transition will be passed on to the real economy, fuelling inflation and higher prices,” the minister explained.
He also noted that available quantities of alternative fuels currently cover just 0.5% of the global shipping industry’s needs. As a result, he argued, it makes no sense to impose punitive measures on shipping companies for failing to use fuels that are not yet available in sufficient quantities.
In this context, the minister said: “As a Minister of Maritime Affairs, as a politician and a representative of the Greek government, we have not accepted and will not accept, in these very difficult times, adding fuel to the fire and further burdening Greek citizens, European citizens and global trade as well as the global economy. Because that is essentially what some people want: to move forward against societies, against families and against the real economy.”
Referring to the preparatory discussions that have taken place at European level, he described them as “unsatisfactory and highly problematic”, arguing that the positions of countries representing the largest share of European shipping were not taken into account.
He underlined that Greece, Italy, Cyprus and Malta, which together represent more than 70% of the European fleet, with Greece accounting for 60%, are aligned on the issue.
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