Countdown to MEPC 80: IMO members lack consensus on key GHG targets, industry experts say
The IMO faces a herculean task in finding consensus among its member states on revised GHG targets for 2040 and 2050, shipping industry experts have concluded in separate interviews with European legislators.
PHOTO: Street view of International Maritime Organisation building in Lambeth, London, England. Getty Images
The European Parliament authored a report based on interviews with government authorities and maritime non-profits and industry experts.
Interviewees said that finding a "suitable compromise" on the timing and nature of the IMO's 2050 decarbonisation target could be a significant challenge for the organisation's Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC).
A major reason for this could be that nations like China and India disagree on a net zero maritime goal for 2050, instead suggesting net zero emissions are "preferably around mid-century and before the end of this century.” It will be challenging to get them to agree, especially since China and India have set 2060 and 2070 as net zero dates, respectively.
“It is possible that a compromise text on timing may be found by, for example, replacing '2050 at the latest' with 'around 2050' during the MEPC 80 negotiations,” said the EU Parliament.
“The definition of zero could be open to interpretation depending on whether it [MEPC] refers to a full [greenhouse gas] GHG reduction from shipping or whether it refers to net-zero allowing the possibility of offsetting part of the GHG emissions from reductions or removals from outside of the sector via the purchase of carbon credits,” it added.
Respondents also believes that the conflicting interim targets proposed by IMO member states for 2030 and 2040 could complicate the MEPC's efforts at its 80th meeting.
Among IMO member states, Japan has suggested the lowest interim target of 50% GHG reduction by 2040, while the global warming-sensitive island nations of Fiji, Marshall Islands, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu have proposed the most ambitious targets of 96% GHG reduction by 2040 – both compared to the 2008 levels.
Meanwhile, the EU bloc recommends 29% GHG reduction by 2030 and 83% by 2040, while the US has proposed a reduction of 37% in GHG emissions from shipping by 2030.
“The likelihood of setting an ambitious absolute intermediate target for 2030 is, however, very low simply due to the lack of time available and a lack of confidence that it could be feasibly achieved,” the EU Parliament concluded.
By Konica Bhatt
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