Two important IMO projects are being featured this week (9-13 May) at the 8th biennial International Waters Conference (IWC8) organized by the Global Environment Facility (GEF). Globallast and GloMEEP are both aimed at building capacity in developing countries, where shipping is increasingly concentrated.
The Globallast Partnerships project helps such countries reduce the risk of invasion by alien species carried in ships’ ballast water by complying with and implementing the IMO Ballast Water Management Convention. GloMEEP focuses on building capacity to implement technical and operational energy-efficiency measures for ships, and is working towards forming a public-private partnership under a Global Industry Alliance (GIA) for low-carbon shipping, within the project framework. Both projects are being executed by IMO with funding and support from GEF and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
IWC8 is taking place in Negombo, Sri Lanka. Described as the “the signature learning event for the GEF IW portfolio” it has attracted more than 300 participants representing 90 active GEF projects.