IMO’s MEPC 80 begins today: what’s on the agenda?
The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has highlighted certain key points that will be discussed by the delegates during this week, particularly the revision of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions strategy.
PHOTO: Opening of the Intersessional Working Group on Reduction of GHG Emissions from Ships (ISWG-GHG 15). IMO
The revised GHG strategy that will be adopted at the MEPC 80 will contain concrete greenhouse gas reduction targets for the sector. It is also expected to outline a basket of technical and economic measures to help phase out GHG emissions from global shipping.
Besides tackling climate change and reducing GHG emissions from ships, the IMO has outlined key strategies that are going to be discussed over the course of the next five days. They are:
- Energy efficiency of ships
- Ballast water management
- Revised guidelines for biofouling management
- Designation of a particularly sensitive sea area in north-western Mediterranean Sea
- Revised guidelines for underwater noise management
- An assembly resolution on ship-to-ship transfer
The MEPC will also consider the report of the Correspondence Group on Marine Fuel Life Cycle GHG analysis, including guidelines on the life cycle GHG intensity of marine fuels (LCA guidelines) for consideration and adoption.
“The draft LCA guidelines will allow for a Well-to-Wake calculation, including Well-to-Tank and Tank-to-Wake emission factors, of total GHG emissions related to the production and use of marine fuels.,” the regulator said.
“IMO will continue to support developing countries, in particular Small Island Developing States and Least Developed Countries to ensure a just transition to low-carbon shipping which leaves no one behind and seizes development opportunities arising from the decarbonization of the maritime sector,” it added.
The committee will also look into several submissions related to the onboard carbon capture (OCC) technology and a “proposal on the way forward to review the current regulatory framework and consider how to move forward to potentially accommodate onboard CO2 capture within IMO's regulatory framework.”
Last week, IMO’s Secretary-General Kitack Lim urged members of the Intersessional Working Group to be “bold and ambitious” while working on the revision of greenhouse gas (GHG) strategies that will be discussed and amended starting today.
Click here to see IMO’s complete agenda for the week at MEPC80.
By Aparupa Mazumder
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