The International Maritime Organisation (IMO) is tightening energy efficiency rules for boxships and gas carriers.
A draft of a new agreement drawn up last week shows that new containerships will now be required to be up to 50% more efficient by 2022, against the previous target of 30% by 2025, Reuters reported.
New general cargoships, LPG and LNG carriers and hybrid diesel-electric cruiseships will also have to be up to 30% more efficient by 2022.
The Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) met to discuss the goal of cutting greenhouse gas emissions by 50% from 2008 levels by 2050.
The energy efficiency design index (EEDI) sets mandatory targets for new ships on the maximum amount of CO2 emissions allowed.
“Your work in this session has strengthened the energy efficiency framework,” IMO secretary-general Kitack Lim told delegates in London.
The International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT) said the move could reduce CO2 emissions by about 750m tonnes from 2022 to 2050, equating to around 2% of all emissions from international shipping over that period.
“The IMO’s decision to move up and tighten energy efficiency targets for some new ships is a modest but necessary step to combat climate change,” said Dan Rutherford, ICCT’s marine programme director.
Some environmental campaigners claim the target is already being surpassed by the most efficient newbuildings and called for stricter targets, however.
