Member States of the IMO have adopted the 2023 IMO Strategy on Reduction of GHG Emissions from Ships, with enhanced targets to tackle harmful emissions in a  meeting at the Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC 80).

IMO said in the announcement that the revised IMO GHG Strategy includes an enhanced common ambition to reach net-zero GHG emissions from international shipping close to 2050 — a commitment to ensure an uptake of alternative zero and near-zero GHG fuels by 2030, as well as indicative check-points for 2030 and 2040.

"The adoption of the 2023 IMO Greenhouse Gas Strategy is a monumental development for IMO and opens a new chapter towards maritime decarbonization," said Kitack Lim, secretary-general of the IMO.

"At the same time, it is not the end goal; it is, in many ways, a starting point for the work that needs to intensify even more over the years and decades ahead of us. However, with the Revised Strategy that you have now agreed on, we have a clear direction, a common vision, and ambitious targets to guide us to deliver what the world expects from us," he added.

The IMO chief noted that it is "particularly meaningful" to have unanimous support from all Member States.

IMO is the United Nations' specialized agency with responsibility for developing global standards for shipping and supporting countries to implement those rules. 

2023 IMO Strategy on GHG emissions reduction

IMO noted that the 2023 IMO Strategy on Reduction of GHG Emissions from Ships (the 2023 IMO GHG Strategy) represents the continuation of work by IMO as the appropriate international body to address greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from international shipping.

According to the 2023 IMO GHG Strategy, the carbon intensity of the ship to decline through further improvement of the energy efficiency for new ships with the aim of strengthening the energy efficiency design requirements for ships.

The strategy also seeks to reduce CO2 emissions per transport work, as an average across international shipping, by at least 40% by 2030, compared to 2008.

It also seeks "zero or near-zero GHG emission technologies, fuels and/or energy sources to represent at least 5%, striving for 10% of the energy used by international shipping by 2030."

IMO noted that GHG emissions from international shipping are expected to reach net-zero GHG emissions by or around, i.e. close to 2050, taking into account different national circumstances, whilst pursuing efforts towards phasing them out as called for in the Vision consistent with the long-term temperature goal set out in Article 2 of the Paris Agreement.

Meanwhile, indicative checkpoints to reach net-zero GHG emissions from international shipping include:

•  to reduce the total annual GHG emissions from international shipping by at least 20%, striving for 30%, by 2030, compared to 2008; and 
• to reduce the total annual GHG emissions from international shipping by at least 70%, striving for 80%, by 2040, compared to 2008.
  
  

The 2023 GHG Strategy states that a basket of candidate measures, delivering on the reduction targets, should be developed and finalized comprised.

"The mid-term GHG reduction measures should effectively promote the energy transition of shipping and provide the world fleet a needed incentive while contributing to a level playing field and a just and equitable transition," IMO said.

The MEPC 80 met on July 3-7, 2023, at IMO Headquarters in London.