In a serious blow to the Arctic and the fight to stop global heating, the UN’s International Maritime Organisation (IMO), responsible for regulating international shipping, has firmly rejected the pleas of all of those crying out for ambitious climate action.
Civil society groups have lambasted the International Maritime Organization (IMO) for failing to take action on the Arctic climate crisis, after plans to reduce black carbon emissions from shipping in the Arctic were bumped off the agenda of its Marine Environment Protection Committee meeting (MEPC 76), which ended today.
As a meeting of the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) Marine Environment Protection Committee opens today (MEPC 76), IMO member states were called on to take urgent and immediate action to protect the Arctic from the impacts of shipping emissions and pollution.
“Has the Shipping Industry and @IMOHQ Simply Given Up on #ClimateAction?” asks John Maggs @SeasAtRisk following #mepc76
https://bit.ly/3x6FT7R
“Groups like @WWF_Arctic @WWFCanada & @ICC_Canada have criticized the ban, saying exemptions mean it won’t effectively protect the #Arctic.” @BlakeEmily @CabinRadio https://twitter.com/CabinRadio/status/1405936057061945346
The UN formally adopted a ban on heavy fuel oil in Arctic waters, despite criticism from environmental and Indigenous groups that it doesn’t go far enough. https://cabinradio.ca/65871/news/environment/un-organization-adopts-arctic-heavy-fuel-oil-ban/
“The #mepc76 @IMOHQ [short-term energy efficiency measure] contains no enforcement mechanism/level of ambition, a 1.5% annual improvement, was deliberately calibrated to be same as what has happened historically & in absence of regulation” John Maggs @SeasAtRisk @cecilia_keating https://twitter.com/BusinessGreen/status/1405831329414057984
‘Good as useless’: Campaigners slam IMO’s new carbon intensity regulation as ‘hopelessly weak’ https://www.businessgreen.com/news/4033084/useless-campaigners-slam-imo-carbon-intensity-regulation-hopelessly-weak
Dear @IMOHQ, may we point out that you’ve conveniently left out the bit about how exemptions & waivers means a complete #Arctic heavy fuel oil ban will not come full into force for another ***EIGHT*** years, thus endorsing continued pollution? 👀https://www.reuters.com/article/us-shipping-arctic-imo-idUSKCN2DT21E @Reuters https://twitter.com/IMOHQ/status/1405544542397288456
#MEPC “I wish to sincerely thank you for the very robust engagement at this session. I deeply appreciate your dedication and spirit of cooperation to ensure that we make progress.” said IMO Secretary-General in his closing remarks. Full speech here: https://bit.ly/3xrZizz
During the meeting, @IMOHQ also adopted a ban on the use and carriage of heavy fuel oil in Arctic waters; however, it’s weak: another 8 years befor any real impact & endorse “continued arctic pollution”, due to being ridden with loopholes. https://bit.ly/3gwz0Xu #mepc76
“This week was @IMO’s last chance before #COP26 in Glasgow convenes to show that its deliberations & decisions on climate impacts from #shipping – CO2 & #blackcarbon – have any relevance to meeting the goals of the #ParisAgreement” https://bit.ly/3gwz0Xu #mepc76 @Sian_Prior9
Pacific Environment’s Guide to IMO is a resource for anyone looking to get a crash course in what the International Maritime Organization (IMO) is and how it operates. In the guide, you will find descriptions of committees and sub-committees, section by section summaries of key IMO instruments (like the Polar Code), a list of every participating non-governmental organization with links to their websites, a glossary of common acronyms and terms, and much more. Download here.
The Clean Arctic Alliance is working for a ban on heavy fuel oil from Arctic shipping
