After the conclusion of the IMO’s MEPC 77, the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) expressed its disappointment “that the words and commitments made by governments at COP26 have not yet been translated into action.”
More specifically, ICS Secretary General, Guy Platten, stated that MEPC 77 missed the opportunity to take forward a range of GHG reduction measures which would accelerate the development of zero emissions ships “that are urgently needed at scale to decarbonise our sector. It’s almost as if COP 26 never happened.”
Governments can’t keep kicking the can down the road; every delay moves us further away from reaching pressing climate goals. We will continue to work with governments to agree to the suite of measures which the industry has proposed, including the 5 billion dollar R&D fund as an immediate step to be followed by a levy based carbon price for shipping
said Mr. Platten, explaiin that “the adoption of both these measures will be the only way to deliver on net zero emissions from shipping by 2050 while ensuring an equitable transition that leaves no one behind.”
The message from the industry at COP26 was clear; time is running out and we must do everything in our power to decarbonise now. Industry will continue to press IMO to act as the importance of addressing climate change is too great to give up on
said ICS, expressing its disappointment that “insufficient time was dedicated to allow IMO Member States to take a decision on the 5 billion dollar fund at this session.”
All we are asking is for governments to let business to get on and do the things that need to be done. We are not even asking for money or the type of subsidies that other sectors receive. This is a no brainer at a time when we do not have time to prevaricate
Furthermore, ICS added that if the IMO Maritime Research Fund is not taken forward soon, it would be “signal to the world, following COP 26, that IMO is no longer truly serious about maintaining its leadership on GHG issues and that others may then move in to fill the vacuum.”
We will continue to work with governments to ensure that concerns are address so that this fund can be implemented as soon as possible
This news comes as IMO failed to revise its emissions reduction strategy for 2050, as further revision of the target will not take place until 2023.
Despite widespread support for keeping warming below 1.5 degrees and for ending ship climate emissions by 2050, the IMO made no progress to agree on the new goal.
In fact, IMO member states did not reach an agreement on revising the IMO’s current target and on committing to reducing shipping emissions to zero by 2050.
Moreover, IMO did not also approve the voluntary measure against Arctic black carbon emissions, after Russia, China and other members, raised objections.
While there was a nearly unanimous support at MEPC 77 for a resolution urging ships in or near the Arctic to switch from heavy fuel oil to cleaner distillate fuels, Russia, China, Japan, Saudi Arabia and the International Chamber of Shipping said more emissions data was necessary, on different fuel types and engines before they could support such a resolution.
