IMO Secretary General, Mr. Kitack Lim

After several years of negotiations, the IMO has reached an agreement on an “initial strategy” for the reduction of CO2 emissions from shipping.

hours ago, the IMO Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) announced that member state delegates have agreed on a target to cut the shipping sector’s overall CO2 output by 50 percent by 2050, to begin emissions reductions as soon as possible, and to pursue efforts to phase out carbon emissions entirely. The agreement includes a reference to bringing shipping in line with the Paris Climate Agreement’s temperature goal, which seeks to limit global warming to “well below” two degrees Celcius.

The 50 percent CO2 reduction goal is roughly in line with the proposal endorsed by the International Chamber of Shipping. In addition to the percentage target, the initial strategy also includes strengthening the EEDI efficiency requirements for new ships and reducing shipping’s carbon intensity – that is, the amount of CO2 emitted for each unit of transport work completed.

While it creates goals for future action, the MEPC’s “initial strategy” does not give a timetable for rolling out legal restrictions on CO2 output. Rather, it is a “framework for member states” that sets out “levels of ambition to reduce GHG emissions and guiding principles,” the IMO said in a statement.

The IMO says that the agreement will be revised by 2023, in accordance with a “roadmap” passed in 2016. The “roadmap” calls for a fourth and fifth round of IMO greenhouse gas studies from 2019-2022, which would be carried out before creating any regulations.

The “initial strategy” announced Friday was not easy to reach. MEPC has deferred a decision on a reduction plan for carbon emissions before, and as late as Thursday there were reports that at least two member states might move to block the proposal. A group of nine states had called for MEPC to take no action on CO2.

IMO Secretary-General Kitack Lim said in a statement that Friday’s agreement was a solid basis for future efforts. “I encourage you to continue your work through the newly adopted Initial GHG Strategy which is designed as a platform for future actions,” Lim told delegates. “I am confident in relying on your ability to relentlessly continue your efforts and develop further actions that will soon contribute to reducing GHG emissions from ships.”

A working group will meet to develop a program of action on CO2 emissions and will report on its findings at the next session of the MEPC later this year.