IMO MEPC strengthens GHG emission targets for ships
10 July 2023
The International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) adopted the 2023 IMO Strategy on reduction of GHG emissions from ships, strengthening their GHG emission targets. The new GHG Strategy was adopted at the 80th MEPC session that was held from 3 to 7 July 2023.
The 2023 IMO GHG Strategy sets a target to reach net-zero GHG emissions from shipping by or around 2050. The Initial IMO Strategy on reduction of GHG emissions from ships, adopted in 2018, envisaged reducing emissions by 50% by 2050, and reaching net-zero GHG emissions by the end of the century. The GHG Strategy is subject to a review every five years.
| Target year | Levels of ambition compared to 2008 | |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 GHG Strategy | 2023 GHG Strategy | |
| 2030 | To reduce CO2 emissions per transport work by at least 40% | To reduce CO2 emissions per transport work by at least 40% To reduce total annual GHG emissions by at least 20% (striving for 30%) Uptake of zero GHG emission fuels to represent at least 5% of the energy used (striving for 10%) |
| 2040 | To reduce total annual GHG emissions by at least 70% (striving for 80%) | |
| 2050 | To reduce CO2 emissions per transport work by at least 70% To reduce total annual GHG emissions by at least 50% |
To reach net-zero GHG emissions by or around 2050 at the latest |
| 2100 | To reach zero GHG emissions | |
Several other issues related to the reduction of GHG emissions from ships were discussed at MEPC 80, including:
- Guidelines on Life Cycle GHG Intensity of Marine Fuels (LCA Guidelines)—MEPC adopted the LCA Guidelines, which provide a general framework on the calculation method of GHG emission intensity including CO2, CH4 and N2O, Fuel Lifecycle Label (FLL: unified representation format of characteristics for individual fuel), procedures to determine default emission factors (default values of GHG emission intensity per fuel pathway) and elements subject to verification and certification by a third-party.
- Mid-term measures for reduction of GHG—It was agreed that a basket of mid-term measures, which consist of both technology and economical elements, will be further developed under a proposed timeline. The candidate measures include year-by-year enhancements of reduction of annual GHG emission intensity (GFS, GHG Fuel Standard), payments on the basis of GHG emission amount (Levy), and a combination of implementing both levy for using fossil fuels and rebate for using zero-emission fuels (Feebate).
- Data Collection System (DCS) for fuel oil consumption of ships—Draft amendments to MARPOL Annex VI Appendix IX were approved, amending/adding several items required to be reported in the DCS.
- CO2 emission conversion factor for biofuels—An interim guidance was approved to allow for assigning CO2 Emission Conversion Factor for biofuels taking into account their life cycle (WtW, Well-to-Wake) for the purposes of DCS and Carbon Intensity Indicator (CII) regulations.
Source: ClassNK