Friday, 13 April 2018 marked a momentous date in the work of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) – a London-based United Nations Specialized Agency – as it adopted an initial strategy for greenhouse gas reduction from international shipping. This followed two weeks of intense negotiations amongst Delegations representing more than 95 Member States of that agency’s 172-Member State body. Back-to-back meetings were conducted by an Inter-sessional Working Group on greenhouse gas reduction from 3 – 6 April under the Chairmanship of Mr. S. Oftedal of Norway; rolling over to the 72nd session of the Marine Environment Protection Committee, from 9 –13 April.
The Strategy, does not only commit IMO to reducing GHG emissions from international shipping; it also envisages a phase-out within this century. The Strategy specifically sets out “levels of ambition” that aim to peaking GHG emissions as soon as possible, and to reducing the total annual GHG emissions by at least 50% by 2050 compared to 2008 while, at the same time, pursuing efforts toward phasing them out entirely! The central objective includes a specific reference to “a pathway of CO2 emissions reduction consistent with the Paris Agreement temperature goals”.
In recognition of this significant achievement in the world’s efforts to reduce global temperature rise in line with the UNFCCC Paris Agreement, the Secretary-General of IMO Mr. Kitack Lim thanked delegates for demonstrating their usual spirit of cooperation that led to the successful outcome. He paid special homage to Mr. Oftedal of Norway who chaired the Inter-sessional Working Group and the GHG Working Group during the MEPC 72nd session. Similarly, and in particular, he extended heartfelt thanks and deep appreciation to the Committee’s Chair and Vice Chair, respectively: to the Chair, Mr. H. Saito of Japan for steering the meeting successfully with a calm demeanour; to the Vice Chair, Mr. Harry Conway of Liberia, recognized for his invaluable inputs both in his official capacity and his unofficial behind-the-scenes efforts dedicated toward the Inter-sessional Working Group and the 72nd MEPC session, thereby generating the anticipated outcomes!
Delegates attending the twin meetings needed not to be reminded of their strategic importance, given the global two-week focus that was directed at the Organization, including protestors who converged before its Headquarters. As a matter of fact, a protest inscription on the banks of the Thames River directly opposite the IMO HQ that read: “IMO, don’t Sink Paris”. “Well, IMO did not sink Paris, as IMO doesn’t sink ships”, remarked one delegate!