IMO Secretary-General Kitack Lim has highlighted IMO’s work to promote green and sustainable shipping at the ITF Green and Inclusive Transport Summit 2016 in Leipzig, Germany (18-20 May). Mr Lim highlighted mandatory energy efficiency measures already adopted and approved, as well as two major technology programmes to help improve energy efficiency in shipping and help the industry move towards a low-carbon future. During a side event on "Reducing CO2 from shipping: Acting on the Paris Agreement" Edmund Hughes, Head, Air Pollution and Energy Efficiency at IMO provided information on the work of the Organization to address GHG emissions from ships with a focus on the action taken by IMO to complement the Paris Agreement on Climate Change. Dr. Hughes reiterated that the challenge is not just one for IMO as the international regulator for shipping industry but extends to ship designers and marine engineers to develop the technological solutions, to those who operate and manage ships, to seafarers and those who educate them and, importantly, to the business of shipping, which needs to ensure that investment in innovative low carbon technologies is properly incentivised.
Transport ministers from ITF Member countries attending the summit agreed a declaration on green and inclusive transport. The declaration recognises that growth in the maritime industry highlights the need for enhanced cooperation among transport stakeholders in order to promote the protection of the environment alongside sound framework conditions for the sector through continued collaboration at IMO.