The Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) 82nd session focused on a range of environmental matters related to shipping. Some of the key topics discussed included proposed mid-term measures for reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from ships, improving energy efficiency in shipping, tackling marine litter, managing ballast water, and reducing underwater noise.
Here are some of the highlights from the session:
- The committee made progress on developing mid-term measures to cut down greenhouse gas emissions in order to meet the goals outlined in the 2023 IMO Strategy on Reduction of GHG Emissions from Ships.
- The committee also continued its work on developing a life cycle assessment (LCA) framework. Relevant documents were referred to the GESAMP Working Group on Life Cycle GHG Intensity of Marine Fuels (GESAMP-LCA WG).
The IMO (International Maritime Organization) is a specialized agency of the United Nations that regulates shipping. The MEPC is a committee of the IMO that is responsible for developing and implementing measures to protect the marine environment from pollution from ships.
The shipping industry is a major source of air and water pollution. The measures discussed at the MEPC 82nd session are an important step forward in reducing the environmental impact of shipping.
Measures to reduce GHG emissions
The following are some of the measures that the IMO is considering to reduce GHG emissions from ships:
- Energy efficiency measures: These measures include improvements to ship design, propulsion systems, and operational practices.
- Carbon pricing: This would involve charging a fee for each ton of carbon dioxide emitted by ships.
- Research and development: This would support the development of new technologies that can help to reduce GHG emissions from ships.
- International cooperation: This would involve working with other countries to develop and implement measures to reduce GHG emissions from ships.
Conclusion
The IMO MEPC 82nd session was an important step forward in the effort to reduce GHG emissions from ships. The measures discussed at the session, if implemented, could help to significantly reduce the environmental impact of shipping.