#GHG: International Maritime Organisation shows limited commitment to reducing emissions

The European Commission has welcomed limited progress made this week within the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) to address greenhouse gas emissions in the maritime sector. IMO adopted a global and mandatory system to collect fuel consumption data from ships , but the vision is a long term one and there is no sense of urgency.

Under the new requirements, ships of 5,000 gross tonnage and above will have to collect consumption data for each type of fuel they use. These ships account for approximately 85% of CO2 emissions from international shipping. The data collected will provide a firm basis on which future decisions on additional measures, over and above those already adopted by IMO, can be made.

Commissioner for Transport Violeta Bulc said, "Three weeks after the aviation deal in Montreal, the momentum for global action on climate remains strong. Today's agreement is a milestone for a cleaner shipping sector. Data collection is an important first step, and it is very positive that we also started a discussion on a fair contribution of shipping to the climate efforts. The Commission will continue to work closely with the International Maritime Organisation and all its members for a competitive and sustainable shipping sector."
IMO Secretary-General Kitack Lim said the new requirements sent a clear signal that IMO was ready to build on the existing technical and operational measures for ship energy efficiency.

“The data collection system will equip IMO with concrete data to help it make the right decisions, as well as enhancing its credentials as the best placed and competent forum for regulating international shipping,” said Mr Lim.

Many will be disappointed with this relatively weak commitment. The new mandatory data collection system is intended to be the first in a three-step approach in which analysis of the data collected would only provide the basis for an objective, transparent and inclusive policy debate in the Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC). This would in turn allow a decision to be made on whether any further measures are needed to enhance energy efficiency and address greenhouse gas emissions from international shipping. If so, proposed policy options would then be considered.

The MEPC also approved a roadmap (2017 through to 2023) for developing a “Comprehensive IMO strategy on reduction of GHG emissions from ships”, which foresees an initial GHG strategy to be adopted in 2018.

It contains a list of activities, including further IMO GHG studies, with relevant timelines and provides for alignment of those new activities with the ongoing work by the MEPC on the three-step approach to ship energy efficiency improvements mentioned above. This alignment provides a way forward to the adoption of a revised strategy in 2023 to include short-, mid-, and long-term further measures, as required. There is no sense of urgency, but with the roadmap the IMO have adopted a ‘long-term vision’.

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