IMO’s upcoming fifth GHG study will be critical for shipping – South Korea and Australia

The IMO should get started right away on its fifth greenhouse gas (GHG) study, the two countries have proposed in a submission to the IMO.

PHOTO: Exhaust gases flow from the funnel of a container feeder vessel. Getty Images

The International Maritime Organisation (IMO) releases a GHG study report typically every five years to illustrate the impact of its policies on shipping emissions. Having published four editions since 2000, the IMO’s forthcoming fifth study will likely assess GHG emission reductions from ships between 2018 and 2023. It is expected to be released in 2025.

South Korea and Australia highlight that the IMO has implemented various short-term GHG reduction strategies and technical guidelines in recent years. These include the Energy Efficiency Existing Ship Index (EEXI), the Carbon Intensity Indicator (CII) and an enhanced Ship Energy Efficiency Management Plan (SEEMP). Most recently, the maritime regulator adopted a revised GHG strategy for shipping last year, setting a goal of net-zero emissions by or around 2050.

They stress that the upcoming GHG study will be vital for analysing the effects of these initiatives on the maritime industry both pre- and post-implementation, as well as for shaping future shipping policies.

However, considering that the EEXI and CII regulations for vessels were only implemented on 1 January 2023, there is uncertainty regarding whether the complete effects of these policies will be captured in the fifth GHG study, which will span until 2023.

Both countries say that the IMO should get working on its fifth GHG study when member states convene between 18-22 March for the 81st Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC 81). This is to ensure that an interim report can be made available at the MEPC 83 meeting scheduled for 2025.

By Nithin Chandran

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