Global Ports Support Ambitious IMO Greenhouse Gas Strategy
Bali, Indonesia, May 12, 2017 – Seaports all over the world wish to support and contribute to the roadmap for developing a comprehensive IMO strategy on the reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from ships and facilitate the shipping and port industry in all possible ways to curb their GHG emissions.
This is the essence of the resolution adopted this morning by the International Association of Ports and Harbors (IAPH) at the conclusion of its 30th World Ports Conference, held in Bali, Indonesia. Using its consultative status within IMO, IAPH decided to co-sponsor a submission by Germany and other parties for the next session of the IMO Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) to be held in July this year. This submission calls for a quantified global emissions pathway for shipping to set the level of ambition of the initial IMO strategy, which is to be decided in 2018. The objective is that emissions should start declining as soon as possible and reduce towards zero in the second half of the century, in line with the Paris climate goals.
IAPH took leadership on climate change early in the process with the World Ports Climate Initiative that was established in 2008", said IAPH President Santiago Garcia Mila, "Ports worldwide are at the crossroads of land based and maritime industries and are vulnerable to the effects of climate change, such as the rise of sea level and extreme weather conditions. This is why we are keen to see an ambitious IMO GHG strategy in place as soon as possible and want to do everything to help the shipping industry and Member States in achieving this objective.
IAPH further decided this morning to integrate the World Ports Climate Initiative in a wider World Ports Sustainability Programme, that will extend the scope from climate action to the full range of sustainable port development challenges the industry is facing. Further, it will engage regional port associations and international port-related organisations. The new programme will be launched officially in Antwerp, during a two-day conference to be held 22-23 March next year.
For further information, please contact:
Peter Mollema, Vice-President IAPH
pw.mollema@portofrotterdam.com
Tel + 31 6 22 90 40 66