WMU Welcomes Adoption of Revised GHG Reduction Strategy
On 7 July, member States of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), meeting at the Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC 80), adopted the 2023 IMO Strategy on Reduction of GHG Emissions from Ships (the 2023 GHG Strategy), with enhanced targets to tackle harmful emissions.
The 2023 GHG Strategy represents the continuation of work by IMO as the appropriate international body to address greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from international shipping. The revised IMO GHG Strategy includes an enhanced common ambition to reach net-zero GHG emissions from international shipping close to 2050, a commitment to ensure an uptake of alternative zero and near-zero GHG fuels by 2030, as well as indicative check-points for 2030 and 2040.
The IMO Secretary-General, Kitack Lim, highlighted in a press release published by the IMO, "The adoption of the 2023 IMO Greenhouse Gas Strategy is a monumental development for IMO and opens a new chapter towards maritime decarbonization. At the same time, it is not the end goal, it is in many ways a starting point for the work that needs to intensify even more over the years and decades ahead of us. However, with the Revised Strategy that you have now agreed on, we have a clear direction, a common vision, and ambitious targets to guide us to deliver what the world expects from us."
"Above all, it is particularly meaningful, to have unanimous support from all Member States. In this regard, I believe that we have to pay more attention to support developing countries, in particular SIDS and LDCs, so that no one is left behind," he said.
Professor Maximo Q. Mejia, President of WMU, welcomed adoption of the Strategy and noted its recognition of providing support to developing countries. “The 2023 GHG Strategy is a significant milestone for the industry and marks a pivotal step towards maritime decarbonization. It will change the face of shipping for many years to come. The World Maritime University is committed to supporting the achievement of the 2023 GHG Strategy, and we pledge to do our part by providing excellence in maritime education, training, research and capacity building in support of a sustainable maritime industry with net-zero GHG emissions,” said President Mejia.
Through cutting-edge education and research in the Maritime Energy Management (MEM) field, WMU works to support the achievement of sustainable, zero/low-carbon and energy-efficient maritime and ocean industries. WMU’s MEM educational offerings include the groundbreaking MEM MSc specialization that was introduced in 2015, and a Postgraduate Diploma in Maritime Energy delivered by distance learning. WMU’s Maritime Energy Management Research Priority Area focuses on the fundamental understanding of energy in a maritime context and the application of evidence-based knowledge across the field from ships to ports, and from oceans to shipyards, to ensure the cost-effective, safe and environmentally friendly use of resources. The book Trends and Challenges in Maritime Energy Management, was published in 2018 as an outcome of the International Conference on Maritime Energy Management (MARENER 2017) hosted at WMU in 2017. It was one of the most downloaded books in its category in 2018. A new offering in 2022, and available again in 2023, is the WMU Summer Academy on Maritime Decarbonization that provides a week-long intensive programme for maritime professionals that is focused on the opportunities and challenges surrounding the reduction of GHG emissions from shipping.
