19/11/2020 (Agence Europe) – On Tuesday 17 November, the Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC), which is part of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), approved draft amendments proposed by the IMO working group that is looking at greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from shipping. Intended to contribute to the decarbonisation of the maritime sector, these amendments would require ships to combine a technical and an operational approach to reduce their carbon intensity. However, these proposals face strong criticism for not including any targets that are truly binding (see EUROPE 12589/20). “The outcome may not be perfect, but it is (...) marking a milestone in the further progress by IMO towards decarbonisation”, said IMO Secretary-General Kitack Lim. The draft amendments will now be submitted for formal adoption at the 76th session of the MEPC, to be held in 2021. (DG)