Mid-Term GHG Reduction Measures on the Agenda at IMO's Marine Environment Protection Committee Meeting

The International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) convenes its 82nd session from September 30 to October 4, 2024, at IMO Headquarters in London. This crucial meeting will address a range of pressing environmental issues affecting the global shipping industry.

Key topics on the agenda include proposed mid-term measures for reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from ships, enhancing energy efficiency, managing ballast water, and mitigating underwater noise pollution. The committee will also discuss measures to tackle marine litter and designate new Emission Control Areas.

IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez opened the session by addressing the ongoing security concerns in the Red Sea. “The continued attacks on shipping in the Red Sea remain deeply troubling. These incidents not only jeopardize the safety and well-being of seafarers but also have far-reaching consequences for international shipping,” Dominguez said.

The MEPC will focus on developing draft amendments to MARPOL Annex VI, which will include a basket of mid-term GHG reduction measures. These measures aim to achieve the ambitious goal of net-zero emissions from international shipping by or around 2050, as outlined in the 2023 IMO Strategy on Reduction of GHG Emissions from Ships.

“I am encouraged by the commitment shown by all parties to bridge these differences, and I am confident that this will allow us to progress on draft amendments for both the GHG fuel intensity requirement and a GHG pricing mechanism, in accordance with the timelines we agreed here, which are set forth in the 2023 IMO GHG Strategy,” Dominguez added.

Dominguez also emphasized the need for cooperation and compromise, stating, “As we approach the final sessions of the Committee before the decision [on mid-term GHG reduction measures] is made in autumn next year, I urge you to concentrate on our key objectives… The most relevant point is that we should focus on finding solutions that should enable us to move forward together”.

The committee will also review short-term GHG reduction measures, particularly the Carbon Intensity Indicator (CII) regulations, which have been in effect since January 2023.

Other significant items on the agenda include the designation of new Emission Control Areas in Canadian Arctic Waters and the Norwegian Sea, as well as Indonesia’s proposal to designate the Nusa Penida Islands and Gili Matra Islands in Lombok Strait as a Particularly Sensitive Sea Area.

As the maritime industry faces unprecedented environmental challenges, the outcomes of MEPC 82 are expected to have far-reaching implications for global shipping practices and environmental protection efforts.