IMO Head Affirms Need For Urgent Action On Emissions

IMO Secretary-General Kitack Lim has spoken of the “urgent need” to develop concrete measures to support IMO’s initial strategy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from shipping.

Delivering a keynote address at the European Shipping Week in Brussels (20 February), Mr Lim said that “ambitious regulatory targets – adopted by IMO and backed up by technical cooperation and capacity building activities – will act as the catalyst for technology, triggering research, development and innovation.”

He added “zero emission shipping requires the development, widespread availability and affordability of new zero-carbon marine fuels or propulsion technologies, such as renewable hydrogen, ammonia or wind propulsion.”

Image Credits: imo.org

In a wide ranging speech, Mr Lim also spoke of the collaborative efforts by IMO and other stakeholders to ensure shipping’s transition to low-sulphur fuels has gone smoothly, and once again stressed the major health benefits of the move.

He also spoke of the potential benefits of introducing new technology in shipping and of the continuing need to place seafarer issues – including gender equality – front and centre of future policy making.

He concluded with a rallying call for more collaboration to build a truly sustainable future for shipping.

Reference: imo.org

Source: Maritime Shipping News