United Nations hails IMO emissions action

The United Nations Climate Change body has welcomed the undertaking by 173 member states to reduce the carbon emissions of global shipping by at least 50 per cent by 2050 compared with 2008.

The London meeting of the International Maritime Organisation’s Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) adopted an initial strategy on the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from ships, setting out a vision to reduce emissions from international shipping and phase them out entirely.  

The strategy includes a specific reference to “a pathway of CO2 emissions reduction consistent with the Paris Agreement temperature goals”.

The strategy also identifies barriers and supportive measures including capacity building, technical co-operation and research and development.

IMO Secretary-General Kitack Lim said the strategy would be revised by 2023.

IMO has already adopted global mandatory measures to address the reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from ships.

IMO is also executing global technical cooperation projects to help developing states to support energy efficiency in the shipping sector.