IMO’s challenges on the route to decarbonising international shipping Key Issues at Stake at the 72nd Session of the IMO Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC 72)

Despite efficiency improvements, CO2 emissions from international shipping are projected to be two to five times higher in 2050 than in 1990. At the Paris climate conference, countries agreed to limit climate change to well below 2°C. Without considerable contributions of the shipping sector to global mitigation efforts this goal will be much harder to achieve. The main issue at stake at MEPC 72 is the comprehensive IMO Strategy on the reduction of GHG emissions from ships. MEPC 72 will be preceded by a weeklong meeting of the GHG Working Group that will discuss issues relating to this Strategy with the view to adopt the Initial Strategy at MEPC 72.