IMO pushes forward on shipping emissions cutting

THE International Maritime Organization (IMO)-Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) pushed forward with a number of measures aimed at supporting the achievement of the objectives set out in the initial IMO strategy on reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from ships. This is in line with the Paris Agreement under the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

In a statement, the IMO said the MEPC 74 session, which transpired last May 13 to 17, approved amendments to strengthen existing mandatory requirements for new ships to be more energy efficient; initiated the Fourth IMO GHG Study; adopted a resolution encouraging cooperation with ports to reduce emission from shipping; approved a procedure for the impact assessment of new measures proposed; agreed to establish a multi-donor trust fund for GHG; and agreed terms of reference for the sixth and seventh inter-sessional working groups to be held in November, 2019 and in March 2020 respectively in order to expedite the work.