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School of Law and Government
Shows Dr Goran Dominioni and Dr Christy Ann Petit

DCU examines carbon double pricing issue in international shipping

Dr Goran Dominioni
International shipping will soon be subject to multiple carbon pricing instruments. This has led to concern among some nations about competitiveness in the industry. Dublin City University researchers Dr Goran Dominioni and Dr Christ-Ann Petit have published a paper making a case for co-operation.

Following the EU’s extension of its emissions trading scheme to international shipping, the International Maritime Organisation is working towards implementing instruments putting a specific price on greenhouse gas emissions.

Industry stakeholders have pointed out and called for avoiding the issue of double pricing. Double pricing would occur when multiple emissions pricing measures would both impact the shipping industry.

Dr Dominioni and Dr Petit’s paper, published in the European Journal of Risk Regulation, discusses the pro and cons of double pricing, and how its negative effects can be mitigated.

The article finds that the case to avoid double pricing rests on a balance of competing interests, contextual factors, and instrument design. If policymakers aim to avoid double pricing, regulatory cooperation between policymakers working on shipping decarbonisation and border carbon adjustment mechanisms can provide important lessons on how to do so.

Dr Dominoni has previously run training sessions for IMO officials at Dublin City University.