THE INTERNATIONAL Maritime Organization has submitted its 2023 GHG strategy to the United Nations’ first Global Stocktake.

The Global Stocktake was established under the Paris Agreement to enable countries and other stakeholders to review progress made towards meeting the goals of the Paris Agreement.

It is a process aimed at “taking inventory” of the world’s progress on climate change. The inaugural stocktake is scheduled to conclude at COP28 and take place every five years going forward.

The IMO submitted its 2023 IMO Strategy on reduction of GHG emissions from ships to the stocktake following a request from the Marine Environment Protection Committee.

“The vision of the 2023 IMO GHG Strategy states that IMO remains committed to reducing GHG emissions from international shipping and, as a matter of urgency, aims to phase them out as soon as possible, while promoting, in the context of this Strategy, a just and equitable transition,” IMO wrote in its submission.

“Enhanced levels of ambition include to reach at least 5%, striving for 10%, of the energy used by international shipping to be zero or near-zero GHG emission technologies, fuels and/or energy sources by 2030, and 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.”

The IMO said it regularly updates appropriate UNFCCC bodies and meetings on its action to address GHG emissions from international shipping.

It said it will participate in COP28 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates in November and December 2023.