With the IMO MEPC 72 meeting fast approaching, ECSA’s President Panos Laskaridis reiterated the European Shipowners’ strong commitment to the development of an ambitious yet realistic IMO strategy on GHG, within the time schedule agreed in the Roadmap, and urged Member States to work diligently towards this goal.
The shipping industry has traditionally spared no effort to enhance the safety and environmental protection and is by far the most energy efficient transport mode, noted ECSA.
It was also the first industrial sector, way ahead of any other global industry, to be regulated by legally binding global regulations to reduce its CO2 emissions, through two IMO’s measures, the Energy Efficiency Design Index (EEDI) and the Ship Energy Efficiency Management Plan (SEEMP), both in force since 2013. IMO’s proven track record in developing pioneering and technically feasible environmental measures should be entrusted and supported.
Mr. Laskaridis firmly believes that the conclusion of an agreement at the forthcoming IMO MEPC 72 is imperative for addressing GHG emissions reductions from international shipping meaningfully and effectively and it is committed to facilitate this process, working closely and in good faith with all stakeholders.
The European Shipowners believe that all proposals by IMO Member States should be discussed on their own merit, as the negotiations have reached a very sensitive and political stage. Mr. Laskaridis concluded:
It is in this context that ECSA strongly supports and advocates an insightful compromise approach by Member States and the European Institutions in order to reach an agreement, which is the objective for the benefit of the industry and the environment.
Meanwhile, EU member states’ decision to support a 70-100% reduction in maritime GHG emissions worldwide by 2050, compared to 2008 levels, has been welcomed by sustainable transport group Transport & Environment (T&E). Faig Abbasov, shipping officer with T&E, said:
Developed nations, including the EU countries, must show leadership at the key IMO climate negotiations next month. Europe needs to stand firm in agreeing a long-term reduction target compatible with the temperature goals of the Paris agreement. Silence during the climate negotiations is no longer acceptable; everybody must play their part, especially the largest EU flag nations which have considerable power at the IMO. We will be watching closely and will compile another ranking after the meeting to encourage all EU countries to be active in the discussions.
European ambition to clean up the shipping sector’s GHG emissions is being led by Germany, Belgium and France, a ranking compiled by T&E last week shows. The top three, followed by the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, and then the UK, Denmark, Luxembourg and Finland, were the most active in pushing for an effective climate plan at the IMO. The five worst performers in the ranking are Greece, Cyprus, Italy, Portugal and Croatia. The EU’s biggest shipping registries, Malta, Greece and Cyprus, received almost exclusively negative points given their near complete lack of ambition in the climate negotiations.