a technical and an operational approach to reduce their
carbon intensity. This is in line with the ambition of the Initial IMO GHG
Strategy, which aims to reduce carbon intensity of international shipping by
40% by 2030, compared to 2008. The amendments were developed by the seventh
session of the Intersessional Working Group on Reduction of GHG Emissions from
Ships (ISWG-GHG 7), held as a remote meeting 19-23 October 2020.
The draft amendments will now be put forward for formal
adoption at MEPC 76 session, to be held during 2021.
IMO Secretary-General Kitack Lim, said, “Considerable
further work on the implementation of the measures is still ahead of us, but I
am confident that, the IMO spirit of cooperation, shown during the past years,
will enable swift progress with the development of technical guidelines and a
Carbon Intensity Code as well as the essential further work on the
comprehensive assessment of impacts of the measures on developing countries,
SIDs and LDCs. I express my gratitude to all Member States that have indicated
a commitment to supporting these efforts.”
He said the approved amendments were important building
blocks without which future discussions on mid and long-term measures will not
be possible.
The progress in developing the short-term measures follows
the timeline as set out in the initial IMO GHG strategy. The strategy proposed
that short-term measures should be those measures finalized and agreed by the
Committee between 2018 and 2023.