IMO energy efficiency project - 

EC funding provides a booster

In an earlier blog, dated 8th Jan, 2016 on, “Climate change and global warming – reductions in CO2 emissions by shipping industry”, the steps taken by the international shipping industry was highlighted. As this blog is a sequel, some of the salient points from the earlier blog are repeated for continuity.

 In December 2015, the Paris Climate Change Agreement (COP 21) had been adopted. It clearly identified a goal of “holding the increase in the global average temperature to well below 2Deg C above pre-industrial levels and to pursue efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5Deg C above pre-industrial levels”.

 IMO has contributed, and said it will continue to contribute, to global GHG reduction goals. IMO and its Member states recognize the important need for international shipping, which accounts for 2.2% of CO2 anthropogenic emissions, to support global efforts to mitigate the impact of climate change.

 Following the outcome of Kyoto Protocol (1997), IMO has worked on mandatory energy efficiency standards for new ships, and mandatory operational measures to reduce emissions from existing ships. These requirements have entered into force under an existing international convention (MARPOL Annex VI) in January 2013. By 2025, all new ships will be 30% more energy efficient than those built last year (2014).

 The Shipping industry has already taken steps to reduce CO2 emissions through energy efficiency on ships. Following the Paris agreement (COP21), the shipping industry would need to strive even harder to further reduce greenhouse gas emissions and thereby contribute in its effort /share to further reduce global warming and climate change.

 Recently, European commission (EC) has committed to provide a funding contribution of Euro 10million to IMO for its energy efficiency project.

 The funds mobilized by the EC illustrate the EU's commitment to support the concrete implementation of a range of measures aimed at addressing energy efficiency and shipping emissions and, through this, contributing to the fight against climate change. This IMO energy-efficiency project is part of the Commission's broader climate financing portfolio aimed at helping less developed countries take climate actions in specific fields or sectors such as the shipping sector.

 The aim of the project will be to help beneficiary countries limit and reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from their shipping sectors through technical assistance and capacity building. It will encourage the uptake of innovative energy-efficiency technologies among a large number of users through the widespread dissemination of technical information and know-how. This will heighten the impact of technology transfer.

 The four-year project will target five regions - Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, Latin America and the Pacific. These have been targeted for their significant number of Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and Small Island Developing States (SIDSs).

 The heart of the project will be the establishment of five MTCCs, one in each target region, with seed-funding support from the project. These will have a strong regional dimension, becoming centers of excellence for promoting the uptake of low-carbon technologies and operations in maritime transport. Each MTCC is expected to be hosted by an existing institution with a credible standing in the region. These host institutions will be selected through an open process of competitive bidding against a set of criteria and project deliverables. The project will be coordinated by IMO’s Marine Environment Division through a dedicated unit at IMO headquarters. IMO welcomes the EC contribution to this project which will form a cornerstone of continuing efforts by the Organization to ensure effective implementation and enforcement of the energy-efficiency regulations worldwide, and the activities undertaken by the MTCCs should provide an important focus for the promotion of technical co-operation, capacity building and technology transfer relating to the improvement of ships’ energy efficiency.

 The Shipping industry is grateful to EC and IMO for the above noble development, and would be happy to receive technology transfer, further improve ship’s energy efficiency and contribute further towards reduction in global warming.