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Carbon War Room is to launch a new service today that compares the carbon emissions of thousands of shipping vessels.

The new initiative, launched on the website www.shippingefficiency.org uses data compiled by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) to categorize ships based on their energy efficiency from A to G, with A being the most efficient.

Shipping companies will also be allowed to submit their calculations of their own greenhouse gas emissions, which once verified can be used to modify their carbon rating.

Carbon War Room is also said to be in discussions with a number of ports to encourage them to reward efficient ships and penalize poor performers.

Speaking on the sidelines of the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Cancún, Mexico, Richard Branson [pictured], Chairman of the Virgin Group and Co-founder of the Carbon War Room, said: “The fact that I am in the aviation industry is why I set up the Carbon War Room, to assuage my guilt at being in a dirty industry.”

According to calculations by the Carbon War Room, the shipping sector - which accounts for about 5 per cent of global carbon emissions - could reduce emissions by one third through simple measures such as changes in the routes taken, type of fuel used and better engine and hull maintenance.

Commenting on the idea of implementing a tax on international shipping and aviation, Branson said: “It would be nice if governments were to not tax new energy, to encourage investment, and as people switch from old to new energy, to slowly start putting taxes on old energy. It’s a no-brainer – that’s all we need governments to do, then individual companies can do the rest.”

In addition to Richard Branson, Carbon War Room was founded by Craig Cogut, founder of Pegasus Capital Advisors; Vladas Lasas, CEO Skubios siuntos UAB Kaunas & UPS Lithuania; Strive Masiyiwa, Executive Chairman of Econet Wireless; Shelly Meyers, Founder and President of Palisades Management LLC; Boudewijn Poelmann, co-founder and chairman of the Dutch Postcode Lottery and Mark Shuttleworth, founder of the Ubuntu Project.

"The project aims to bring together successful entrepreneurs in collaboration with the most respected institutions, scientists, national security experts, and business leaders to implement the change required to avoid catastrophic climate change," Carbon War Room says on its website.