First out of the blocks to offer a summary on the progress made at the ISWG-GHG 14 meeting at IMO’s London HQ, climate action NGO Opportunity Green tells Bunkerspot that the week-long discussions have delivered a ‘mixed bag of outcomes’, but with ‘widespread agreement that we need to achieve zero emissions by no later than 2050’.
As previously reported, this meeting of the working group has taken on extra significant as a precursor to the anticipated adoption of a revised IMO GHG Strategy at MEPC80 in July.
In a statement sent to Bunkerspot last night (23 March), Ana Laranjeira, Shipping Manager at Opportunity Green, said: ‘There now seems to exist a broad support for zero emissions by no later than 2050, and a good group of countries are also pushing for the IMO’s Strategy to deliver on 1.5°C. This is absolutely critical, especially for the low-lying States, and those nations most vulnerable to the negative impacts from climate change.
‘Despite this, many delegates are still debating their understanding of “zero emissions”, and not enough of them are yet supporting clear and specific emission targets that can effectively get international shipping to 1.5°C. ‘
With MEPC80 looming, Laranjeira continued: ‘We do not have time for such a fundamental disagreement at this point in the discussion – nor when it comes to addressing the climate crisis. We need immediate emissions reductions in this decade and interim targets for 2030 and 2040, to make 1.5°C happen.’
Opportunity Green said the latest report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), published earlier this week, validated this position, as it concluded that C02 reductions of 48% must be made by 2030 or we will be heading for 2.7°C of heating.
Looking ahead to MEPC80, Opportunity Green said: ‘Some countries are slowly starting to come forward and clarify which regulatory measures they're in support of. This is crucial, as these are the tools that will effectively turn the agreed revised emissions targets, to be adopted next July by the IMO, into reality.
‘These measures must include an ambitious market-based mechanism, with part of its revenues going towards supporting the sustainable development of climate vulnerable countries.’
Laranjeira concluded her comments with a call for greater inclusivity in the discussions: ‘It was disappointing that a number of progressive climate vulnerable countries – including some who made important interventions on equitable transition at meetings last December – were not able to be present this week, due to capacity challenges.
‘The perspectives of these countries are urgently needed in order to achieve ambitious goals and an equitable transition, so the announcement of financial support for them is very welcome. We hope the new Voluntary Multi-Donor Trust Fund empowers these countries, who stand to lose the most from the effects of climate change, so that they are better represented in future negotiations.’
Update later on 24 March:
France, via the French Embasssy in the UK, has announced a €30,000 commitment to the Multi-Donor Trust Fund, and Opportunity Green's Laranjeira sent Bunkerspot this response to the news: 'We welcome France's announcement of a contribution of €30,000 to the IMO's Voluntary Multi-Donor Trust Fund. There is no equity nor fairness in the decision-making process, if climate vulnerable Member States are unable to take part in these meetings and have their say in the final outcome of the negotiations - particularly when there is so much at stake for these nations, most impacted by climate change. Thus, this ought to be only one of many such contributions to the Fund to follow from other Member States and organisations, in the near future.
Bunkerspot has reached out for comment from other actors and observers at this week’s ISWG-GHG 14 and will relay their feedback as it comes in.
