WASHINGTON, D.C. –Today, CongresswomanDoris Matsui (CA-07), co-chair of the Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition (SEEC) and Congressman Kevin Mullin (CA-15) introduced the International Maritime Pollution Accountability Act, a bill which would impose fees on greenhouse gas emissions and other toxic air pollutants emitted by large marine vessels carrying cargo destined for U.S. ports. The funds raised from these fees will be used to drive industry-wide decarbonization efforts of ships and port equipment.
“The climate crisis is the defining challenge of our time. Its reach is global, but its devastating consequences are felt locally,” said Congresswoman Matsui.“That’s why we must take a full-systems approach across all sectors of our economy to crack down on dirty fossil fuels and reduce harmful air pollution. The International Maritime Pollution Accountability Act takes aggressive action to accelerate the decarbonization of our maritime shipping industry, pushing forward investments in greener, more sustainable technology and infrastructure.”
“I am honored to represent California’s 15th Congressional District in the San Francisco Bay Area, which is all too familiar with the risk of climate change-driven sea-level rise and flooding,” said Congressman Mullin. “To mitigate the worst impacts of climate change, we must decarbonize our economy, which starts with addressing carbon-intensive industries such as maritime shipping. I am proud to co-lead the International Maritime Pollution Accountability Act with my California colleague, Rep. Doris Matsui to cut greenhouse gas emissions and other toxic air pollutants that risk the health of ecosystems and communities around the world. The Bay Area’s regional ports are a focal point for international maritime shipping, driving global commerce and keeping America running. This legislation is a critical step for California to continue to lead on climate action while maintaining vibrant economic growth.’’
The legislation imposes a $150 per ton fee on greenhouse gas emissions from ships carrying cargo destined for the U.S., as well as fees for the nitrogen oxides ($6.30/lb.), sulfur dioxide ($18/lb.), and particle pollution (PM2.5) ($38.90/lb.) that ships emit in U.S. territorial waters.
All fees will be adjusted for inflation and increased annually by 5% beyond inflation to incentivize the transition to low- and zero-emission ships. Only large vessels of 10,000 gross tons or more would be required to pay the fee, which would exclude most domestic shipping. These pollution fees are estimated to raise approximately $250 billion over 10 years, providing critical funding for decarbonization efforts in the maritime economy.
“International shipping is a significant source of climate and health pollution that threatens the nearly 40 million people living near America’s ports,” said Joanna Slaney, Associate Vice President for Political Affairs, Environmental Defense Fund. “Rep. Matsui’s International Maritime Pollution Accountability Act of 2024 can slash that pollution, helping ensure the air near our ports is cleaner for generations to come, while also providing critical funding to decarbonize the maritime economy and reduce global climate pollution.”
“We applaud Representative Matsui and co-lead Representative Mullin for introducing today the International Maritime Pollution Accountability Act,” said Antonio Santos, Federal Climate Policy Director, Pacific Environment. “By levying pollution fees on ships offloading cargo at domestic ports, the bill would hold the shipping industry financially accountable for their harmful emissions while at the same time generate significant revenue for the deployment of cleaner marine vessels, fuels, and technologies here in the U.S. We call on Congress to support and pass this bill to accelerate the shipping industry’s transition off of dirty fossil fuels and help protect vulnerable port communities around the country.”
“To fund the clean shipping transition, the U.S. must invest in electrifying ports, developing alternative shipping fuels, and eliminating air pollution; but none of this will be possible without adequate funding,” said Delaine McCullough, Shipping Emissions Campaign Manager, Ocean Conservancy. “The International Maritime Pollution Accountability Act would charge a fee to the shipping industry for polluting our ocean, harming the health of port communities, and contributing to climate change, allowing us to fund these priorities to clean up the industry. Ocean Conservancy is grateful for the leadership of Representatives Matsui and Mullin for their work on this critical issue. For the health of our ocean and our communities, we urge Congress to pass this common sense, critical legislation.”
For more detailed breakdowns on fee calculation, full text of the bill is available HERE.
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