Press release: IMO Member States show broad support for zero emissions – but we need more to achieve an equitable transition that ‘keeps the 1.5 alive’ 

(London, 24 March, 2023) This week’s International Maritime Organization (IMO) greenhouse gas working group meeting (ISWG-GHG 14) was a pivotal moment to ensure the shipping industry takes meaningful action on climate change ahead of adopting its revised GHG Strategy in July. 

The week-long discussions have delivered a mixed bag of outcomes, but with clear signals that there is widespread agreement that we need to achieve zero emissions by no later than 2050. 

Ana Laranjeira, Shipping Manager at Opportunity Green, has attended the full week of discussions. She says: “There now seems to exist a broad support for zero emissions by no later than 2050, and a good group of countries are also pushing for the IMO’s Strategy to deliver on 1.5°C. This is absolutely critical, especially for the low-lying States, and those nations most vulnerable to the negative impacts from climate change.” 

Despite this, many delegates are still debating their understanding of 'zero emissions', and not enough of them are yet supporting clear and specific emission targets that can effectively get international shipping to 1.5°C.  

“We're approximately three months away from adopting a revised Strategy, we do not have time for such a fundamental disagreement at this point in the discussion – nor when it comes to addressing the climate crisis,” says Ana Laranjeira. “We need immediate emissions reductions in this decade and interim targets for 2030 and 2040, to make 1.5°C happen.” 

This week’s report from The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) couldn’t be any clearer in support of this position. It stated that it is absolutely vital that significant C02 reductions of 48% are made by 2030 or we will be heading for a dangerous 2.7°C of heating.  

Some countries are slowly starting to come forward and clarify which regulatory measures they're in support of. This is crucial, as these are the tools that will effectively turn the agreed revised emissions targets, to be adopted next July by the IMO, into reality. 

These measures must include an ambitious market-based mechanism, with part of its revenues going towards supporting the sustainable development of climate vulnerable countries. The World Bank has estimated that $1 trillion to $3.7 trillion could be raised from putting a price on shipping emissions by 2050. A measure of this scale would not only generate revenue to accelerate global shipping decarbonisation but do it in a way that supports the most climate vulnerable nations, advancing a fair and equitable transition for all. 

“It was disappointing that a number of progressive climate vulnerable countries – including some who made important interventions on equitable transition at meetings last December – were not able to be present this week, due to capacity challenges,” says Ana Laranjeira.   

“The perspectives of these countries are urgently needed in order to achieve ambitious goals and an equitable transition, so the announcement of financial support for them is very welcome. We hope the new Voluntary Multi-Donor Trust Fund empowers these countries, who stand to lose the most from the effects of climate change, so that they are better represented in future negotiations.” 

We welcome France's announcement of a contribution of €30,000 to the IMO's Voluntary Multi-Donor Trust Fund. There is no equity nor fairness in the decision-making process, if climate vulnerable Member States are unable to take part in these meetings and have their say in the final outcome of the negotiations - particularly when there is so much at stake for these nations, most impacted by climate change. Thus, this ought to be only one of many such contributions to the Fund to follow from other Member States and organisations, in the near future. 

Notes to editors 

International shipping currently produces approximately 3% of all global greenhouse gases. Increasing demand for shipping services means that maritime emissions are accelerating faster than many other sectors and if no meaningful action is taken, shipping could account for 10-13% of global emissions by 2050. 

Opportunity Green is an NGO working to unlock the opportunities from tackling climate change using law, economics, and policy. It does this by building ambitious coalitions, supporting climate vulnerable countries, and finding innovative legal pathways for bold climate action, with particular emphasis on the aviation and shipping industries. 

Since October 2022, Opportunity Green has been working bilaterally with a number of ambitious climate vulnerable IMO Member States, to increase their capacity to engage and participate at the climate IMO meetings, including ISWG-GHG 14. Our work with these countries includes inter alia, developing unbiased information briefings ahead of the IMO meetings, providing ad-hoc legal and policy advice, and facilitating networking opportunities.   

Media contacts: 

Ana Laranjeira 
Shipping Manager, Opportunity Green  
ana@opportunitygreen.org  

Aoife O’Leary 
CEO, Opportunity Green 
aoife@opportunitygreen.org 

Image Credits: Header image courtesy of IMO.