The IAPH welcomes IMO Member State commitments to continued consensus building, made during MEPC 84, while acknowledging that future intersessional meetings must show meaningful progress
The International Association of Ports and Harbors (IAPH) has welcomed signs of progress at IMO MEPC 84 and ISWG-GHG 21 in recent weeks. Nevertheless, the association notes that real progress towards a global framework – which the industry requires in order to secure investments in decarbonisation at sea and on land – will depend on genuine consensus-building and decisive action later this year at ISWG-GHG 22 and 23, ahead of MEPC 85.
Last week, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) saw Member States further discuss the future of the IMO Net-Zero Framework (NZF) at the Marine Environment Protection Committee meeting (MEPC 84). Following the decision to postpone the vote on adoption at the Extraordinary Session last October, the Committee considered proposals to amend the NZF and ultimately agreed to hold additional intersessional meetings in an effort to achieve a broader consensus.
These discussions will continue later this year at ISWG-GHG 22, scheduled to take place 1-4 September, followed by ISWG-GHG 23, provisionally scheduled to be held 23-27 November, ahead of MEPC 85 (30 November-3 December).
IAPH welcomes the decision to hold future sessions to bridge the diverging views. However, it is clear that many Member States remain opposed to adopting a global regulatory framework that contains an economic element.
“The ports sector supports the net zero transition for international shipping, in line with the ambitions of the 2023 IMO GHG Strategy. Ports play a critical enabling role in this transition, and it is essential that governments move towards adopting a comprehensive global framework that contains economic components essential for accelerating investment and driving the uptake of future fuels,” said IAPH Managing Director Patrick Verhoeven.
“The generation of revenues through such a framework would provide vital support for port infrastructure development, helping to facilitate the decarbonisation of shipping. This is particularly important for developing nations, ensuring a just and equitable transition that leaves no region behind.”
About IAPH
Founded in 1955, the International Association of Ports and Harbors (IAPH) has developed into a global alliance of 206 port authorities as well as 177 port-related businesses. Comprised of over 94 different nationalities across the world’s continents, member ports handle over one third of the world’s sea-borne trade and well over 60% of the world container traffic. IAPH leads global port industry initiatives on decarbonisation and energy transition, risk and resilience management, and accelerating digitalisation in the maritime transport chain. The IAPH’s World Ports Sustainability Program has grown into the reference database of best practices of ports applying the UN Sustainable Development Goals and integrating them into their businesses - iaphworldports.org.