The IMO has this week moved on climate change. But in the week that delivered us the world’s hottest day ever, for sure it hasn’t moved fast enough.

Civil society groups are deeply concerned by the UN’s International Maritime Organization (IMO) failure to firmly align global shipping with the Paris Agreement’s 1.5°C temperature-warming limit, at the 80th Marine Environment Protection Committee meeting (MEPC 80) this week.

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.

30 June 2023 – Civil society groups are deeply concerned about developments at the UN’s International Maritime Organization (IMO) climate negotiations this week (ISWG-GHG-15), in particular regarding the 2030 and 2040 climate targets that are necessary to put global shipping on a 1.5°C-aligned transition and ensure an equitable transition.

26 June 2023 – The global shipping industry can reduce emissions by nearly 50% by the end of the decade, according to a new study by CE Delft.

19 June 2023 – The International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) agreement on shipping climate targets expected next month could be the starting gun for the radical climate action our planet desperately needs.

This week’s round of technical talks at the UN’s maritime regulator showed countries are prepared to phase out shipping emissions by 2050.

Countries must seize the momentum and turn their climate pledges into action at the International Maritime Organization (IMO), which is gathering next week for the 78th session of the Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC 78).