PROPOSED amendments to the MARPOL convention requiring ships to combine a technical and an operational approach to cutting carbon intensity have been proposed by a new International Maritime Organization working group.
The proposed changes would require ships to combine a technical and an operational approach to reduce their carbon intensity.
The draft amendments are to be forwarded to the Marine Environment Protection Committee, to be held in remote session 16-20 November 2020.
The MEPC is the decision-making body. If approved, the draft amendments could then be put forward for adoption at the subsequent MEPC 76 session next year.
“The ISWG-GHG 7 also discussed the next steps in assessing the possible impacts on states of the proposed combined measure,” the IMO said in a statement.
“The group agreed the proposed terms of reference for assessing the possible impacts on states, paying particular attention to the needs of developing countries, in particular small island developing states and least developed countries.”
Progress on developing the short-term measures has continued during the pandemic, with two informal remote sessions in July and early October preceding the formal working group session. The progress follows the timeline as set out in the initial IMO GHG strategy.
