Negotiations on a binding international treaty to limit greenhouse gas emissions to replace the current Kyoto Protocol will begin on December 7 in Copenhagen.

The treaty adopted in 1997 in Japan excluded greenhouse gas emissions from shipping and aviation. Whether or not shipping emissions will be included in the debate has been the focus of the international community over the past few years.

Studies predict that while global shipping is responsible for just under 3% of global carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions at present, that could grow to 13% by 2015 unless action was taken to limit shipping's CO2 output.

The International Maritime Organization (IMO) is hopeful that COP15 or a subsequent global agreement will remove political obstacles that have hampered progress on GHG regulations at the IMO, in particular the common but differentiated responsibilities (CBDR) principle.  

Some organisations have expressed concerns that the political obstacles in addition to the complexities involved with global shipping will hamper progress.

Global leaders have conceded that there will be no United Nations climate change deal at the UNFCCC meeting, but believe a "strong political agreement" may still be possible.

The IMO has come under fire from various sectors over the past six months for failing to come up with a binding emission reduction measures at MEPC 59 meeting in July.

However, the UNFCCC is due to consider seven options for regulating CO2 emissions from shipping, which include handing the whole issue back to the IMO, and the UNFCCC to set emission targets for shipping but let the IMO handle how the target is met.