International Maritime Organization secretary general Kitack Lim is promising to protect the interests of developing nations as the regulator seeks to raise the stakes in its decarbonisation drive.
Lim addressed the Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) meeting, which has been debating raising the IMO’s level of ambition from halving greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 to targeting zero emissions by that date.
The zero-emission target is backed by IMO heavyweights Japan, the UK, the US and the European Union.
As earlier reported by TradeWinds, some developing countries, including Argentina, Brazil, China and the United Arab Emirates, are urging caution over the raised targets.
They claim it could damage them economically, and also go against the United Nations’ common but differentiated principle, which was designed to protect developing nations.
Developing countries have been demanding an impact study on how a zero-emission goal would affect them before the IMO agrees on a new target.
In an intervention to the MEPC 78 meeting to mark World Ocean Day, Lim said delegates had taken due consideration of the issues with developing nations.
“You have all reiterated your commitment from the last session to review the strategy for adoption by MEPC 80 in July next year, and in particular increase the levels of ambition, whilst taking due care of the needs of developing states, in particular small islands, developing states and least developed states,” he said.
He added that the IMO secretariat would undertake the necessary studies to support the decision making on raising decarbonisation goals.
“There has been a call for additional data and information for further consideration of the issues at hand, and in reiterating my commitment to fully support you in this process, the secretariat will endeavour to carry out studies and relevant projects such as the one on alternative fuels, as well as the organisation of symposiums on these topics before MEPC 79, in order to provide opportunities to all stakeholders to share information which can only enrich your future deliberations,” he said.
Incentivise shipowners
Lim also credited the meeting with making progress on medium-term decarbonisation measures and developing market-based measures to incentivise shipowners to take on low-carbon technology.
He said the progress — along with the development of new technology — would help achieve the IMO’s higher decarbonisation targets.
“Let us continue to excel in our spirit of cooperation and collaboration, recognising the needs of developing states and keeping our ambitions in line with the international community,” he said.
