According to NGOs, the 6th session of the Commission for Environmental Protection and the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) Intersessional Working Group on the Reduction of Greenhouse Gas Emissions (ISWG-GHG6) (London, 11-15 November) took only small steps that were not adapted to the climate emergency.
Being examined were short-term measures to address emissions, including the proposal to reduce ship speed.
Delegates simply acknowledged that speed is one of the most important emission factors and that proposals for its reduction are among the operational measures on which progress must be made.
The measure defended by France, giving shipowners the freedom to use the most appropriate tools to achieve the objective of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 40% by 2030, and the Japanese-Norwegian measure to curb the power of ships' engines, have been adopted.
"Japan and Norway's measures to certify ships that limit engine power lack ambition, are opaque and allow cheating", argued The Clean Shipping coalition, (Seas at Risk and Transport & Environment).
An advance for the Arctic. The Clean Arctic Alliance, on the other hand, welcomed the announcement by 30 companies of AECO, the Association of Arctic Expedition Cruise Operators, to move towards a mandatory directive banning the use of heavy fuel oil in the Arctic. This announcement precedes an IMO decision expected in February to enter into force in 2023. (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)