EU Representatives Join Green Groups in Urging IMO to Take Emissions Action at MEPC 69

by Ship & Bunker News Team
Monday April 18, 2016

NGO Transport & Environment (T&E) Friday said that the heads of seven political groups of the European Parliament's (EP's) environment committee submitted a letter to Europe's ministers of transport and environment, adding to calls from the European Community Shipowners' Association (ECSA), the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) and others for the International Maritime Organization (IMO) to take action in line with emission reductions goals set under the COP 21 agreement in Paris.

"There is no reasonable excuse to continue exempting aviation and shipping from the international and EU climate policies," stated the letter, which came just days ahead of the IMO's 69th session of the Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC 69) due to gather this week in London.

Sotiris Raptis, shipping officer at T&E, commenting on the call to the IMO for action, said: "without ambitious action to reduce ship and aviation emissions both at EU and global levels, the world does not stand a chance of limiting global warming to 1.5°C."

The ECSA have also urged EU Member States to support the global climate agenda at the IMO for CO2 emissions reductions in shipping, specifically calling for a mandatory global data collection system that will record individual vessels' emissions on an annual basis

"We believe that this system should have mandatory application," said ECSA's Secretary General Patrick Verhoeven, adding that "a decision in IMO should come forward in 2016 so that ships can provide the required data as soon as possible."

ECSA says it backs a recent proposal from ICS, encouraging the IMO to agree in principle at MEPC 69, that a final decision on a date for implementation of a global 0.5 percent sulfur cap for shipping should be made at its 70th session.

"The development of an Intended IMO Determined Contribution should be part of a clear work plan and timetable, to be elaborated as of this year," said Verhoeven.

Other calls for action at MEPC 69 include a call for an Arctic HFO ban