IMO Member States and NGOs are gearing up for two full weeks of intense deliberations at the 15th meeting of the Intersessional Working Group on Reduction of GHG Emissions from Ships (ISWG-GHG 15) and the 8th session of the Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC 80) taking place from 26 June to 7 July. The much-anticipated revision of the IMO GHG strategy is due to be concluded at MEPC 80, with the IMO and delegations under pressure to agree on an overarching reduction target for the sector. ISWG-GHG 15 will be key in facilitating decision making at MEPC 80, with numerous submissions addressing matters relating to the levels of ambition and feasible GHG reduction pathways, as well as proposals on defining a ‘just and equitable transition’. ISWG-GHG 15 will also further consider the proposals on candidate mid- and long-term GHG reduction measures with the aim to select a basket of technical and economic measures to be further developed. On Monday 26 June, IAPH will be providing a lunchtime presentation reflecting on the progress made by ports on the action areas identified by the IMO Ports Resolution. This will include a broad overview of all IAPH initiatives and reflections from ports on their respective initiatives on Green Corridors, onshore power supply (OPS), the Environmental Ship Index (ESI) and the Clean Energy Marine Hubs initiative (CEM Hubs). At MEPC 80, IAPH has also submitted a document in conjunction with shipping organisations ICS, CLIA and Interferry informing the Committee of the positive role of OPS in the future maritime energy mix and providing key recommendations on how to accelerate the development of OPS infrastructure globally. Specifically, the paper addresses the need for further studies to analyse and improve the accuracy of data on the range of power needed for ships at berth, and it calls for a proportion of the revenues generated from an economic measure to be utilised to support investments in port OPS infrastructure. IAPH will be attending both meetings and will be sending out a detailed briefing paper to members of the Climate and Energy committee shortly.
