Shaama Sandooyea, a marine biologist and climate activist from Mauritius, addressed delegates at the MEPC 80 climate summit in London on 4 July, on behalf of the Clean Shipping Coalition.

Global shipping continues to cause significant harm to the climate, the ocean and human health, with the United Nations International Maritime Organization (IMO), international community and maritime sector repeatedly failing to properly address the issues.

The coming months represent an opportunity for a dialogue between parties on why this wording should be included in the Paris Agreement at COP 21.

In the final years of negotiations for the new climate agreement, it’s still not clear if it will include the fastest growing emissions sources — international aviation and shipping, also known as bunker fuels.

The European Parliament’s Environment Committee voted overwhelmingly today to support and strengthen some elements of the Commission’s proposal for monitoring, reporting and verification (MRV) of shipping emissions.

Environmental groups have today welcomed a European Parliament vote which will help cut back air pollution by significantly decreasing the amount of dirty sulphur allowed in marine fuels.

The EU has boosted efforts to remove one of the main sources of air pollution and acid rain from shipping.

Environmental NGOs have welcomed last Thursday’s decision by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) to require substantial reductions in the sulphur content of marine fuel from 2020.