ECSA: EU must make IMO CO2 road map work

Patrick Verhoeven, ECSA Secretary General

NOVEMBER 9, 2016 — The IMO CO2 road map for shipping was the focus of a European Parliament debriefing facilitated by ECSA (European Community Shipowners Association) this morning.

The road map foresees the adoption of an initial strategy in 2018 to meet the greenhouse gas reduction targets of the Paris Climate Agreement. The initial strategy will be validated by actual emission figures gathered through the IMO’s data collection system as of 2019. This will then lead to a final agreement on targets and measures, including an implementation plan, in 2023. The 2018 and 2023 deadlines are fully consistent with the process agreed in Paris.

“We invite European policy makers and all stakeholders to join industry in seizing the momentum and showing leadership to make the IMO roadmap work”, commented Patrick Verhoeven, ECSA Secretary General. “On the other hand, pursuing regional measures such as an EU ETS or climate fund will seriously endanger international progress, in addition to having negative effects on trade and jobs. The EU should also build trust by aligning its MRV Regulation on the monitoring, reporting and verification of CO2 emissions to the global data collection system agreed in IMO.”

The debriefing was hosted by MEPs Wim van de Camp (EPP), Kathleen Van Brempt (S&D) and Ivo Belet (EPP). The incoming Maltese Presidency of the EU, the European Commission and the NGO Transport & Environment also participated in the panel discussion.

The ECSA presentation can be found HERE