MEPC 79 at the IMO’s headquarters in London
There was steady progress towards revising the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) greenhouse gas (GHG) strategy at Marine Environment Protection Committee 79 (MEPC 79), with no concrete shipping decarbonisation target adopted but support for eliminating the industry’s emissions by 2050 and for setting interim targets to achieve this goal.
While the IMO’s exiting target only aims to only halve emissions from ships by 2050, negotiations are set to continue in a technical working group in spring 2023 (ISWG-GHG-14) and to conclude at MEPC 80 in July 2023.
At MEPC 79, IMO member nations pushed forward in the development of proposals, which include a GHG levy or feebate mechanism, a GHG fuel standard, emissions trading, and a /reward system tied to a specific benchmark.
In his closing remarks, IMO secretary general Kitack Lim stated: “It cannot be stressed enough how crucial it is that we keep the momentum and deliver an ambitious and fair, revised IMO GHG Strategy at MEPC 80 next year.”
At the meeting, only 10 countries opposed a higher ambition for shipping, compared to 24 in June. A clear majority of IMO member states (32 countries) are in favour of setting a zero GHG emissions goal by 2050.
Guy Platten, secretary general of the International Chamber of Shipping said: “The shipping industry urgently needs clear market and regulatory signals to reduce the investment risk currently surrounding alternative energy sources and technologies.”
John Butler, President and CEO of World Shipping Council, said: “Discussions surrounding IMO’s GHG Strategy show promise. There is a growing base of support in the Committee to proceed with development of a GHG levy as well as development of a GHG Fuel Standard.
“Significant differences remain to be resolved on the use of tank-to-wake and well-to-wake GHG factors and the use of funds, but there is a growing sense of agreement on the principal mechanisms that are critical to addressing the GHG challenge at the global level.”
He added: “As such we are seeing significant progress on a number of the Six Critical Pathways identified by WSC as vital to a successful decarbonisation of shipping. On the whole, the outcome of MEPC 79 is encouraging as it reflects a growing base of support for major policy regulations at the global level.”
Seas At Risk, an association of environmental organisations from Europe, called for countries to adopt an ambitious interim 2030 target to deliver steep emission cuts this decade.
John Maggs, Seas At Risk and Clean Shipping Coalition, said: “On the table at IMO are all the elements that are needed for a new climate strategy that would cut emissions deeply before 2030, put shipping on a pathway consistent with keeping global heating below 1.5°C, and help the world avoid the terrifying climate tipping points referred to by UN Secretary General Antonio Gutteres.
“To succeed though delegates must close their ears to the sirens of business as usual, and instead follow the science.”
Lucy Gilliam, Seas At Risk, said: “The IMO is slowly, but without a doubt, making progress on climate. More and more countries now support eliminating shipping’s pollution by 2050. Especially encouraging was to see the newcomers in the room who are ready to seize the economic opportunities shipping decarbonisation has to offer.
“But we must not celebrate too early. Currently the shipping industry is burning through 10% of the remaining 1.5°C aligned carbon budget a year. We need rapid action now, with strong 2030 targets, to create climate safety.”
According to Seas At Risk, a levy of at least US$/tonne of carbon in particular will generate tens of billions of dollars to not only drive the uptake of zero-emission propulsion in the industry but also to support the most vulnerable.
The needs of Small Island Developing states and Least Developed Countries must be taken into account when developing and implementing measures, it added.
