The Potential and Limits of Environmental Disclosure Regulation: A Global Value Chain Perspective Applied to Tanker Shipping

Abstract Exploring how transnational environmental governance and the operation of global value chains (GVCs) intersect is key in explaining circumstances under which mandatory disclosure can improve footprint business operations. We investigate dynamics tanker shipping chain (a major emitter greenhouse gases) limits effectiveness European Union (EU) monitoring, reporting, verification (MRV) regulation, mandates gas emissions for ships calling at EU ports. Although MRV seeks to help shipowners ship managers save fuel reduce emissions, it does not address complexity power relations along currently cannot disentangle different actors influence design, operational, commercial, ocean/weather factors that together determine consumption. In particular, neglects reflect on oil majors exert their impose commercial priorities other actors, thus co-determine use levels. conclude that, its current form, unlikely lead significant upgrading shipping. More generally, we argue regulators seeking facilitate need expand focus beyond unwanted behaviors producers goods providers services also incentive structures demands placed them by buyers.