IMO at COP 27

IMO participation at COP 27 (see also COP 27 side events)

See also the programme of shipping related events prepared by the Shipping Lead, Climate Champions Team here.

IMO's commitment to reduce GHG emissions from shipping

In pursuing its mission – safe, secure and efficient shipping on clean oceans – IMO works vigorously and consistently towards developing a comprehensive regulatory regime aimed at protecting the marine environment.

As stated by its Secretary-General, Kitack Lim,  IMO is committed to achieve the highest possible ambition in decarbonizing international shipping. The Organization's strategic plan for 2018-2023 firmly supports the implementation of the United Nations Sustainable Developments Goals and identifies as one of IMO's main directions the need to develop ambitious and realistic solutions to minimize shipping's contribution to air pollution in response to climate change.

The Initial IMO Strategy on reduction of GHG emissions from ships (the Initial Strategy) was adopted in April 2018. It set out IMO's commitment to reducing carbon intensity per transport work by at least 40% by 2030, pursuing efforts towards 70% by 2050, and total annual GHG emissions from international shipping by at least 50% by 2050 compared to 2008 and work towards phasing them out as soon as possible.

IMO's commitments do not just remain aspirational targets but lay down a binding regulatory framework that applies to the world fleet and is enforced globally. As they apply worldwide, IMO regulations provide a global level playing field without distortion of specific trade flows and agreements, and as such do not lead to carbon leakage or to sub-optimal shipping in certain parts of the world.

IMO's Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) has been dedicating an integral part of its agenda to reducing GHG emissions from ships since 2010. Eleven years ago, IMO adopted the first mandatory climate mitigation measures applicable to an entire industry sector globally. Building upon this regulatory framework, as developed and strengthened over the years, MEPC 76 adopted in June 2021 a short-term carbon intensity reduction measure which combines technical and operational approaches to improve the energy efficiency of ships, thereby reducing their GHG emissions. MEPC 78 in June 2022 further adopted a set of 12 guidelines supporting the uniform implementation of various elements of this short-term measure which entered into force on 1 November 2022.

IMO is currently working on developing mid- and long-term measures according to the Work plan for development of mid- and long-term measures agreed at MEPC 76 and aiming at supporting the achievement of the vision and the levels of ambition agreed in the Initial IMO Strategy. MEPC 78, in June 2022, supported, in general, the further development of a basket of candidate mid-term GHG reduction measures, integrating both various technical and economic elements while recognizing the necessary flexibility.

In parallel IMO initiated the revision of its Initial Strategy with the aim of considering a final draft Revised IMO GHG Strategy at MEPC 80. In the wake of COP 26 and in view of the urgency for all sectors to accelerate their efforts to reduce GHG emissions, MEPC 77 recognized the need to strengthen the ambition during this revision process.

IMO action to promote the uptake of alternative low-carbon and zero-carbon maritime fuels

In order to anticipate the uptake of alternative fuels in the near future, a correspondence group was established by MEPC 78 to further develop draft guidelines on lifecycle GHG intensity of marine fuels (LCA Guidelines), covering various issues such as various fuel production pathways, sustainability criteria issues, Well-to-Tank, Tank-to-Wake and entire Well-to-Wake emission calculation methodologies, third-party verification, etc.

In the meantime, IMO's Maritime Safety Committee (MSC) has been working since 2018 on the development of the appropriate regulatory framework to ensure a safe use of low- and zero-carbon marine fuels, e.g. hydrogen, methanol, fuel cells, ammonia, etc.

Based on the success of its previous Symposium, IMO organized its 2nd Symposium on alternative low- and zero-carbon fuels for shipping in October 2022, focusing on "Ensuring a just and inclusive transition to low-carbon shipping". The Symposium, open to all Member Governments, IGOs, NGOs and the general public, focused on the challenges and opportunities that renewable fuel production represents in the context of shipping decarbonization, particularly for developing countries, and the need for enhanced cooperation at all levels to support this global transition.

The IMO Secretariat, through the IMO's Future fuel and technology for low- and zero-carbon shipping project (Future Fuel Project) will carry out a study on the readiness and availability of low- and zero-carbon technology and marine fuels, and by that contribute to the identification of the state-of-play and projections regarding the global uptake and dissemination of low- and zero-carbon marine technology and fuels.

Watch the IMO video on producing future marine fuels here:

IMO's action to assist States in shipping decarbonization

Member States are also invited within the IMO framework to take action to develop and update voluntary National Action Plans (NAP) with a view to contributing to reducing GHG emissions from international shipping by supporting actions at national level.

With the aim of leaving no one behind, IMO promotes technical cooperation and transfer of technology  relating to the improvement of energy efficiency of ships through the Organization or between Parties to the MARPOL convention (MARPOL Annex VI Reg. 29). In that respect, IMO provides support to Member States, especially developing States, that request technical assistance and capacity building to implement the Initial Strategy. This action is funded by a multi-donor trust fund (GHG TC-Trust Fund) established in May 2019.

It is against this backdrop that IMO will participate in the UN Climate Change Conference (COP 27) in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, starting on 6 November 2022. The update of IMO's work to address GHG emissions from fuel used for international shipping which will be provided to the Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice (SBSTA) under agenda item 13(e) – "Emissions from fuel used for international aviation and maritime transport" is available above.

Carbon capture and storage and marine geoengineering

IMO's work on climate change extends beyond shipping. As the secretariat for the London Convention and London Protocol, IMO regulates carbon capture and storage (CCS) beneath the seabed to mitigate the impacts of increasing concentrations of carbon dioxide (CO₂) in the atmosphere, as well as ocean fertilization and other marine geoengineering activities.

CCS is a technology that aims for the permanent isolation and storage underground (sequestration) of CO_2..CCS has been regulated by the London Protocol since 2006.  

In 2013, the London Protocol was amended to regulate ocean fertilization. This will, when in force, provide a legally binding mechanism to regulate the placement of matter for ocean fertilization, while also "future-proofing" the LP to enable regulation of other marine geoengineering activities that fall within its scope. Read more: London Protocol Climate Change Leaflet 2019.

IMO's objectives for COP 27

IMO's main objectives for the Sharm El-Sheikh Climate Change Conference (COP 27) are, in all communications, to seek to make clear that:

• international shipping is indispensable to the world and is a vital industry to support the UN Sustainable Development Goals and the global energy transition; and

• as its track record to date so clearly demonstrates, IMO is the appropriate international body to continue work to address GHG emissions from ships engaged in international trade.