Urgent global effort needed to avert ‘dangerous waters on climate’ 

By Carly Fields
 

In a stark video message at the start of the latest session of the International Maritime Organisation’s Marine Environment Protection Committee (MPEC), UN Secretary-General António Guterres issued a grave warning, stating: "Humanity is in dangerous waters on climate." Guterres emphasised that while it is still feasible to limit global temperature rise to 1.5°C, achieving this goal necessitates an immense and immediate global effort, with the shipping industry playing a vital role.

MEPC 80 is meeting this week at the IMO to assess ongoing initiatives, with a primary objective of adopting a comprehensive Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions strategy to combat climate change and safeguard biodiversity. 

Highlighting the significance of the decisions to be made during the session, Guterres urged Committee members to chart a safer course. 

The MPEC, responsible for addressing environmental concerns under the jurisdiction of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), focuses on controlling and preventing ship-source pollution as outlined in the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL). This includes addressing issues such as oil spills, bulk chemical transportation, sewage and garbage disposal, as well as air pollutants and greenhouse gas emissions emitted by ships.
 

MEPC’s ‘legacy’

IMO Secretary-General Kitack Lim described the meeting as historic, urging member states to play an active role in implementing the new strategy by setting ambitious targets that will steer the shipping industry towards a clear trajectory of GHG emission reduction. 

Emphasising the long-lasting impact of the Committee's decisions, Lim said: "The 2023 strategy will be your legacy, for which your children and grandchildren will be grateful. The time for IMO to demonstrate its global leadership is now."

The revised strategy is expected to outline a roadmap for developing potential technical and economic measures within the IMO. Lim stressed the importance of concrete legal measures to protect biodiversity and noted the recent adoption of the landmark Convention on Biodiversity (CBD), following almost two decades of discussions. Additionally, he highlighted the significance of the Kunming-Montreal Global Framework for Biodiversity and ongoing negotiations for a new legally binding instrument to tackle plastic pollution. Lim concluded by stating that the Committee's endeavours to ensure a greener, more equitable, and sustainable maritime future hold greater importance than ever before.

Lloyd’s Register’s Andrew Sillitoe, head of regulatory affairs, described the finalisation of the 2023 GHG strategy as “probably the most anticipated and widely speculated topic” of MEPC 80. “We know from the press that there is external pressure being applied to the IMO to agree targets and measures which would see maritime's ambitions align with the 1.5 degrees limit and the wider Paris Agreement.” Early reports from the working group ISWG-GHG 15 were positive, he added.

Discussions around the level of ambition within the strategy seemed to draw some consensus around:

-          The carbon intensity reduction for 2030 being kept at 40% compared with 2008 levels. “This is the same as initial strategy and relates to the implementation of short-term measures such as EEDI, EEXI and CII,” Sillitoe said.

-          The long-term GHG emissions reduction ambition of ‘net zero’ is proposed for 2050 or around mid-century, mindful of different national circumstances.

-          Indicative interim checkpoints for GHG emission reduction could be introduced for 2030 and 2040 (compared with 2008 levels) if finalised at MEPC 80. “It’s possible that the 2030 checkpoint could be at least 20%, possibly striving for 25%, and the 2040 checkpoint could be 70%, possibly striving for 75%,” Sillitoe said.

-          Fuels and/or energy sources as well as technologies of zero or near-zero GHG emissions are to represent 5%, striving for 10%, of the energy mix used by international shipping by 2030.

-          Guiding principles being kept similar to those agreed during the initial GHG strategy in 2018.


Hurdles ahead

“There was no consensus, however, on emissions offsetting from other sectors outside the maritime industry within the GHG emission reduction framework, an area where there has been intensive discourse and debate across our sector,” he added. 

Considering the above, Sillitoe said that the was no guarantee that the 2023 GHG strategy will pass easily. 

“The IMO, as a collective of states, has long been a forum of competing ideals, individual country interests and domestic and international agendas being pursued by each country. Can these be put aside? Or will the IMO have to find a compromise? We will see how the politics plays out this week.”  

As well as the GHG strategy, MPEC’s 80th session will address a range of other challenges, including: energy efficiency of ships; ballast water management; biofouling management, including adopting revised guidelines; designations of sensitive sea areas; underwater noise, including revised guidelines; tackling marine litter; and ship-to-ship transfers, including a proposed resolution.

The decisions made by the MEPC during this session will undoubtedly shape the trajectory of the shipping industry and contribute significantly to global efforts to combat climate change and protect the planet's biodiversity. The world is watching with anticipation as policymakers gather to address these critical challenges.