Regulatory Requirements: The Basics

What are the regulatory requirements that currently support the IMO GHG Strategy for 2030 and 2050?

At this point, there are none. Despite some bold claims made by the Biden Administration in April of 2021, the ambitious measures laid out on Earth Day last year have yet to take shape. The Administration is standing by these words:

“Reducing emissions from international shipping. The international shipping sector contributes approximately three percent of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and the sector’s emissions are only projected to increase. In support of the global effort to keep within reach a 1.5 degree C limit on global average temperature increase, and in support of global efforts to achieve net-zero GHG emissions no later than 2050, the United States is committing to work with countries in the International Maritime Organization (IMO) to adopt a goal of achieving zero emissions from international shipping by 2050 and to adopt ambitious measures that will place the sector on a pathway to achieve this goal.” (Source: The White House Fact Sheet)

The specific objectives related to this commitment will fall upon the shoulders of all of the Delegations to IMO, more specifically those delegation members participating in the IMO’s Marine and Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) and the IMO Intersessional Working Group on the Reduction of IMO GHG Emissions (ISWG-GHG). Senior staff from the United States Coast Guard (USCG) usually head these delegations with several delegates. However, historically, the U.S. Department of State has participated on non-technical aspects of reducing emissions from ships. PortVision50 attended ISWG GHG-11 and 12 held in March and May 2022, respectively, and will virtually attend MEPC 78 the week of June 6-10 2022. Stay tuned…