BIMCO Applauds New IMO Emissions-Strategy

BIMCO is very satisfied with the Green House Gas (GHG) strategy adopted by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) at the Marine Environment Protection Committee on April 13. The strategy outlines a target to reduce GHG emissions by at least 50% by 2050 compared to 2008 while pursuing efforts towards phasing them out.

Lars Robert Pedersen calls the target ambitious, but not impossible: “In BIMCO we believe that the industry can deliver on this target – even if we don’t exactly know how, yet,” he says.

Ahead of critical meetings at the UN International Maritime Organization (IMO) which commence on 3 April, the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) says that governments must compromise to help IMO agree an ambitious strategy for the further reduction of CO2 emissions by shipping that will match the expectations of the Paris Agreement on climate change. “Governments on all sides of the debate are going to need to show far more willingness to compromise on their current positions or put at risk an agreement on a meaningful strategy. This would greatly undermine the authority of IMO and the future sustainability of the shipping industry” said ICS Chairman, Esben Poulsson. “Agreement upon a mid-century objective for the total reduction of CO2 emissions by the sector, regardless of trade growth, will be vital to discourage unilateral action and to provide the signal needed to stimulate the development of zero CO2 fuels” Mr Poulsson added. “But the very high level of ambition proposed by certain EU Member States – a 70 to 100 percent total cut in emissions before 2050 – is unlikely to achieve consensus support.” Mr Poulsson remarked “While ICS does not fully agree with them in every respect, alternative proposals made by China and Japan merit serious consideration and could form the basis of a possible compromise. China in particular seems to have made a real effort to move away from its previous opposition to establishing CO2 reduction goals for the sector’s total emissions. If EU nations want a global agreement they should acknowledge this by similarly modifying their own positions.” In a briefing note to its member national shipowners’ associations, ICS suggests that if IMO was to set an initial objective of cutting the sector’s total CO2 emissions by, for example, 50 percent, rather than 70 to 100 percent, this would still require a major improvement in ship efficiency over ‘business as usual’. When account is taken of the anticipated growth in maritime trade, ICS says this would still only be possible with the widespread use of zero CO2 fuels. “A mid-century objective similar to that proposed by Japan – which might also enjoy support from nations like China if EU nations were willing to compromise – would still provide a compelling signal to the industry. This should also be sufficient to stimulate the development of zero CO2 fuels leading to a 100 percent CO2 reduction in line with the ambitious vision which IMO must agree” said Mr Poulsson. ICS and other industry associations have previously proposed the need for an ambitious vision in the IMO strategy, making it clear that the ultimate goal is the elimination of all CO2 emissions from international shipping (i.e. 100% reduction) sometime between 2050 and 2100, or as soon as the worldwide availability of zero CO2 fuels makes this possible. In advance of zero CO2 fuels becoming available globally, the industry has also proposed that IMO should adopt the following objectives: Objective 1 – to maintain international shipping’s annual total CO2 emissions below 2008 levels; Objective 2 – to reduce CO2 emissions per tonne-km, as an average across international shipping, by at least 50% by 2050, compared to 2008; and Objective 3 – reduce international shipping's total annual CO2 emissions by an agreed percentage by 2050, compared to 2008, as a point on a continuing trajectory of CO2 emissions reduction.

Image credit: Roberto Venturini/wikimedia.org

BIMCO is the largest shipping association in the world, with around 2000 members across the industry, representing 56% of the world’s tonnage.

“The strategy shows that there is only one road ahead, and that is the road towards decarbonisation. The strategy reinforces existing IMO regulations to enhance the energy efficiency of ships and sets out the long-term goals. This will guide the development of new technology and the design of new ships,” Pedersen says.

Pedersen points out that the industry is already well under way. Emissions from shipping peaked in 2008, and emissions from shipping have already been decoupled from the growth in the world economy.

“Now we have to focus on the mid-to-long term. We have to find the technology and procedures that will drive us towards zero GHG emissions,” Lars Robert Pedersen says.

BIMCO sees zero carbon emissions as a realistic goal for the second half of this century, but investments in research and technology are required to get there.

Press Release: bimco.org

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