Tag: MEPC 72

The International Chamber of Shipping fears chaos and confusion unless the IMO resolves some serious issues concerning the successful implementation of the 2020 sulphur cap in marine fuel, which is scheduled to come into effect on 1 January 2020. This could affect the movement of the world’s energy.

Esben Poulsson, Chairman of the International Chamber of Shipping , called the shipping industry to increase its pace in order to comply with the 2020 sulphur cap, as he said that "Time is Fast Running Out." The IMO global sulphur cap for marine fuel is expected to increase bunker prices increase significantly.

In April 2018, the IMO MEPC 72 re-confirmed that the sulphur cap will definitely go ahead in 2020 as scheduled, despite continuing questions as to whether sufficient quantities of compliant fuel will be available in every port worldwide. Ahead of this development, ICS describes the pressing issues that need to be addressed before the regulation comes into force.

On Friday 4 of May, the United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres visited the Headquarters of the IMO. Mr. Guterres highlighted the important contribution of IMO’s work towards achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. He also welcomed the recent adoption by IMO of an Initial Strategy to reduce GHG emissions from ships.

In light of the recent IMO decision to reduce shipping emissions by at least 50%, compared to the levels 2008, many are saying that this development will drive many investors and operators in the maritime sector to immediately invest in more sustainable business models. Managing Director of Lagos Deep Offshore Logistic Base, Dr. Amy Jadesimi said that carbon pricing can trigger international shipping to go forward with decarbonisation.

States meeting at the IMO MEPC 72 last month made no progress on agreeing a roadmap to devise the measures needed to implement immediate emissions cuts, said the sustainable group Transport & Environment, noting "it is now up to Europe and its climate allies to get things moving".

Ahead of the 2020 many countries will soon start adopting measures to reduce GHG emissions from shipping. However, the adoption of a measure can have some implications. The impacts of a measure should be assessed appropriately before the adoption of the measure, IMO says, and describes what needs to be considered first.

Covering more than 4,300 cities in 108 countries, pollution data presents an estimated 4.2 million deaths each year caused by air pollution. More than 90% of the victims come from low- and middle-income countries in Asia and Africa, followed by others in the Eastern Mediterranean region, Europe and the Americas.

After the historic MEPC72 agreement during which the attending parties decided to reduce shipping emissions at least 50% by 2050 compared to 2008, IMO has now published the the text of the Initial GHG Strategy. The text includes activities to reduce GHG emissions from shipping, as well as key stages for the adoption of the GHG Strategy.

IMO MEPC 72 addressed several issues important to Arctic. These issues are a proposed ban on HFO in the Arctic, an agreement to decrease GHG emissions from shipping, and the global and local effects of a warming Arctic. Twenty-two countries supported the ban of HFO in the Arctic, which is now being considered regarding ways to assess impacts.