Global breakthrough to tackle shipping emissionsEsme Stallard, BBCCountries have agreed a global deal to tackle shipping emissions, after nearly ten years of negotiations. Small island states and environmental groups were angry that a blanket tax was not agreed to and called the deal "unfit for purpose". Although they opposed the proposal, they will be bound to implement it because they are members of the IMO. "Whatever is left at the bottom, that's what ships burn. If the UN could raise the tax because they felt like it, what would stop them?