Sulphur cap implementation under the spotlight at IMO today
Monday saw the first day of the Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) gathering at the London headquarters of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) focus on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, leaving Tuesday as the likely day for contentious discussions on the implementation of the global sulphur cap.
MEPC delegates discussed follow up actions to move ahead from April’s decision to cut CO2 emissions in half by 2050 with the head of IMO calling for more rigorous steps to be taken to reduce the industry’s carbon footprint.
IMO secretary-general Kitack Lim said the program of follow up actions “sets a clear signal on how to further progress the matter of reduction of GHG emissions from ships up to 2023. The planning exercise to implement the initial strategy up to 2023 is now behind us. It is time to take a step further.”
Today, however, is when the real key debate of the week is likely to take place. Three big flags plus three of the largest shipowner associations have submitted a paper, backed by the US, to create an experience-building phase to the January 1, 2020 global sulphur cap. The paper will be debated today.