This week member states once again convene in London for a meeting in IMO’s Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC). The meeting in October last year was the most dramatic meeting in the history of the Committee. It ended up with a postponement of the decision about the Net Zero Framework for global climate regulation of the shipping industry after chaotic negotiations.

This upcoming meeting is expected to be much less dramatic. There will be technical consultations on a lot of important issues including energy efficiency, plastic pellets, ballast water, and underwater radiated noise.

“Our ambitions are intact. As a truly global industry, we need global rules that apply to everyone everywhere. The Net Zero Framework should be the starting point for further discussions. I realize that discussions about the way forward might be difficult and I would like to stress that we are open to constructive dialogue on the way forward with all stakeholders,” said Anne H. Steffensen, CEO of Danish Shipping.

There will also be discussions about the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from ships and about the procedural path forward for the measures to implement the 2023 GHG strategy.

“A lot of important groundwork must be done here. We need to deliver on the 2023 GHG-strategy. Insecurity about the way forward is harmful for everyone and makes decisions about investments in new ships and the production of alternative fuels much more difficult. We need to come to an agreement about where we will go from here. We need to find a workable path forward that moves us towards the goal of climate neutral shipping,” said Anne H. Steffensen.

The meeting of the MEPC is the 84th in the committee’s history. It is being held at the headquarters in London and will run until Friday, 1 May, inclusive.