Reacting to the news that the U.S. has withdrawn from International Maritime Organization talks in London looking at advancing decarbonisation in the shipping sector, Anna Barford, Canada Shipping campaigner with Stand.earth, said:

“The irony is that due to the decades-long collapse of the US shipbuilding industry – this is relevant for less than 100 ships that fly the U.S. flag. Big companies, like Carnival Corporation, are notorious for already using flags of convenience to seek the lowest layer of accountability available. Because of the international nature of shipping, there is no way for the U.S. to diplomatically remove themselves from the impacts of this climate crisis whether they are part of the solutions or not. Either way, like withdrawing from the Paris agreement, all this does is ensure that the U.S. is left behind as the rest of the world moves towards a decarbonized future.”
Source: Stand.earth