Very low ambition' at the IMO – Opportunity Green

During the IMO working group meeting last week, member states demonstrated a lack of ambition and dedication to advance shipping decarbonisation, Blánaid Sheeran of Opportunity Green said in a social media post.

PHOTO: The IMO's 80th Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) meeting at IMO HQ this week. IMO

Sheeran works as a project assistant at the environmental NGO Opportunity Green. She argues that the emission reduction targets proposed by IMO member states have not been aligned with the Paris Agreement's goal of limiting global warming to less than 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.

Sheeran thinks that developed member states must step up and take a tough stance on climate change, and to push other IMO member states to align global maritime emission reduction targets with the Paris Agreement.  

Most of the key discussions last week were held in closed circles that some member states were not part of, particularly Pacific islands and developing states, Sheeran claims. There has not been any consensus on the technical and economic measures needed to decarbonise shipping, Sheeran adds.

The working group has submitted a text to the IMO’s 80th Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC), which is meeting this week. The draft text includes certain parts and points that require a green light from MEPC.

The text will be discussed and is expected to be finalised and adopted as a revised IMO GHG strategy by the end of the week.

By Nithin Chandran and Aparupa Mazumder

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