Context: –
Recently, Maritime countries upgraded their Greenhouse House Gas (GHG) emissions strategy to reach net zero “by or around” 2050 at the UN International Maritime Organization (IMO) summit held in London.
- Member states of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) agree to adopt the 2023 IMO strategy on the reduction of GHG emissions from ships, to mitigate harmful emissions.
- Aim – To limit the global temperature increase to well below 2 degrees Celsius as outlined in the 2015 Paris Agreement.
Goals of 2023 IMO GHG Strategy
- For Ships – Carbon intensity of the ship to decline through further improvement of the energy efficiency for new ships.
- For Shipping – Carbon intensity of international shipping to decline to reduce CO2 emissions per transport work, as an average across international shipping, by at least 40% by 2030, compared to 2008.
- Technologies – Uptake of zero/near-zero Green House Gas (GHG) emission technologies or fuels to represent at least 5% (striving for 10%) of the energy used by international shipping by 2030.
- Net Zero – To peak GHG emissions from international shipping to reach net zero as soon as possible and to reach net zero emission by or around, i.e. 2050.
Indicative checkpoints
- For 2030 – International shipping industry to reduce the total annual GHG emissions from international shipping by at least 20%, striving for 30%, by 2030, compared to 2008.
- For 2040 – To reduce the total annual GHG emissions from international shipping by at least 70%, striving for 80%, by 2040, compared to 2008.
According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change 2022 report, maritime shipping is responsible for 3% of global anthropogenic GHG emissions and it is growing rapidly.
International Maritime Organization
Aim:-
It is the United Nations specialized agency with responsibility for the safety and security of shipping and the prevention of marine and atmospheric pollution by ships.
- Headquarters – London, U.K.
- Member States – IMO currently has 175 Member States.
- India is a member of IMO since 1959.
- The IMO Assembly consists of all Member States and is the highest governing body of the Organization.
- It is responsible for approving the work program, voting the budget and determining the IMO’s financial arrangements.
- The IMO Council is elected by the Assembly for terms of 2 years.
- It acts as the Executive Organ of IMO and is responsible, under the Assembly, for supervising the work of the Organization.
FAQs related to the 2023 IMO Greenhouse Gas Strategy
A1: The aim of the 2023 IMO Greenhouse Gas Strategy is to limit the global temperature increase to well below 2 degrees Celsius, as outlined in the 2015 Paris Agreement, by reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from ships.
A2: The goals of the 2023 IMO GHG Strategy include improving the energy efficiency of new ships, reducing carbon intensity in international shipping by at least 40% by 2030 compared to 2008, increasing the uptake of zero/near-zero GHG emission technologies or fuels in shipping, and reaching net-zero emissions from international shipping by or around 2050.
A3: The indicative checkpoints include reducing total annual GHG emissions from international shipping by at least 20% by 2030 (striving for 30% reduction) compared to 2008, and reducing total annual GHG emissions by at least 70% by 2040 (striving for 80% reduction) compared to 2008.
A4: Maritime shipping is responsible for approximately 3% of global anthropogenic GHG emissions, and the sector’s emissions are growing rapidly. Reducing GHG emissions from shipping is crucial for mitigating climate change and achieving global emission reduction targets.
Read also:- International Maritime Organization
