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New IMO head must 'act now' on ship emissions, say environmental groups

Limiting global warming to 1.5/2°c will be “impossible” unless the IMO introduces measures to curb ship emissions, NGOs Transport & Environment (T&E) and Seas At Risk (SAR) have reiterated.

Seatrade Maritime

February 9, 2016

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Highlighting the Brussels meeting of new International Maritime Organization secretary-general and EU Commissioners today, T&E and SAR said shipping could be responsible for 17% of global CO2 emissions in 2050, citing an EU study.

“We welcome the new IMO secretary-general, who is coming to office at a key moment following the Paris agreement,” said shipping officer at T&E Sotiris Raptis. “We are sure Secretary-General Kitack Lim fully understands the need for the IMO to act now. The EU in parallel needs to include shipping in its 2030 reduction commitment now and in the EU ETS or in an EU climate fund from 2021.”

The NGOs’ so-called “elephant in the room”- as highlighted in their demonstrations (pictured) - ship emissions were controversially omitted from the final draft of the UN COP21 climate agreement late last year.

“There is no reasonable excuse to continue exempting the sector from the global and EU climate policies,” said Seas At Risk senior policy advisor John Maggs. “That shipping needs to make its fair share of cuts to keep global warming well below 2 degrees is not negotiable after Paris.”

The IMO is due to discuss ship emissions again at its next meeting of the Marine Environment Protection Committee on 18-22 April. 

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Seatrade Maritime

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