Monday morning saw International Maritime Organization secretary-general Kitack Lim open proceedings at this week’s 74th gathering of the Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) with a call for greater cross-industry collaboration to improve shipping’s environmental performance.
“It is imperative that this organisation demonstrates that it will continue to take tangible action to reduce GHG emissions from shipping in the short term,” Lim said, stressing: “The global community needs to bring action, not words.”
Lim’s words were matched by the large number of climate activists greeting delegates outside the entrance to the IMO’s London headquarters.
Much debate Monday centred on the implementation of the global sulphur cap next year and specifically the taking of fuel samples.
Also unveiled yesterday was a joint project between the IMO and Norway to help shipping move towards its target of slashing emissions by at least 50% by 2050 compared to 2008 levels.
The Norwegian government has set aside NOK10m ($1.1m) for the first two years of the new GreenVoyage-2050 project, and additional funding subject to government approval for 2020 and subsequent years.
The project aims to bolster government and port efforts to achieve emissions cuts through legal and policy reforms, national action plans, private sector partnerships and new technology projects.
