MEPC 84: Negotiations to continue with a defined scope

The IMO has proposed draft terms of reference for an intersessional working group that would cover all proposals submitted to both MEPC 84 and MEPC 85 on the Net-Zero Framework.

IMAGE: Delegates at an IMO Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) Extraordinary Session in London. Flickr of IMO

Theoretically, the terms of reference define what a working group is permitted to discuss, what questions it must address and by when it should deliver its findings.

In this case, the IMO advised member states that the scope would include all proposals submitted to MEPC 84 and MEPC 85, "to address concerns and issues with the draft amendments to MARPOL Annex VI on the IMO Net-Zero Framework and other proposals… in line with the 2023 IMO GHG Strategy."

The draft terms also include a focus on GHG “chain of custody models” to track the sustainability and lifecycle GHG emissions of alternative fuels. A one-day expert workshop is planned ahead of the first intersessional meeting.

Discussions on the proposals will take place at two meetings of the IMO's Intersessional Working Group on GHG Emissions from Ships (ISWG-GHG 22) scheduled for the first week of September. This will be followed by ISWG-GHG 23 planned for November.

The group's findings will be submitted to MEPC 85, currently scheduled for 16-20 November.

Any revised text emerging from that process would then potentially be put forward for adoption at the second extraordinary session, which is expected to resume in November.

By Konica Bhatt

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