Interview with Roel Hoenders, Head, Climate Action and Clean Air, IMO

MEPC80 saw a revised GHG strategy, what are the new targets?

The vision of the 2023 Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Strategy includes an ambition to reach net zero GHG emissions by or around, ie., close to, 2050, taking into account different national circumstances. Enhanced levels of ambition include to reach at least 5%, striving for 10%, of the energy used by international shipping to be zero or near-zero GHG emission technologies, fuels and/or energy sources by 2030. New indicative checkpoints to reach net-zero GHG emissions are identified as follows: reduce the total annual GHG emissions from international shipping by at least 20%, striving for 30%, by 2030, and by at least 70%, striving for 80%, by 2040, compared to 2008.

If it can be measured in numbers, if we achieve these goals, how much cleaner will the air be?

The main objective of the IMO GHG Strategy is to phase out emissions from international shipping to net zero as an effective means to tackle climate change and associated impacts, such as global warming and sea level rise. The uptake of zero and near-zero marine fuels can also substantially cut air pollution resulting from sulphur oxides and nitrogen oxides emissions’. That will improve air quality and human health, particularly for those living in coastal areas.

What are the greatest challenges in achieving this?

IMO Member States have defined the pathway towards a net zero future for international shipping in the 2023 IMO GHG Strategy, while promoting a just and equitable transition. The IMO GHG Strategy provides certainty about the low-carbon future of shipping, allowing all stakeholders to take the necessary steps to prepare for this transition already today. We have to ensure that everyone is on board to achieve IMO’s ambition and need to work with stakeholders outside the maritime sector – such as energy and financial sectors - as well as large industries, such as cement, steel and aluminum producers which all heavily rely on maritime transport, to form strategic partnerships to facilitate access to investment and availability of future renewable fuels. IMO is also committed to building capacity in developing States (especially Small Islands Developing States (SIDS) and Least Developed Countries (LDCs)) to implement the IMO GHG Strategy. We also need to train the maritime workforce -particularly seafarers – to handle zero or near-zero GHG emission technologies, fuels and/ or energy sources.

Going forward, what does the IMO’s vision and strategy for clean air look like?

A key aspect we are currently working on is the development of the next set of IMO global greenhouse gas reduction measures, namely a carbon fuel intensity standard and a maritime GHG emissions pricing mechanism. These measures should be adopted, taking into account the findings of the ongoing impact assessment process in 2025, and enter into force in 2027 to deliver on the climate targets laid down in IMO’s GHG Strategy.

We are also enhancing IMO’s framework for the assessment of the life-cycle carbon footprint of marine fuels. The 2023 GHG Strategy identifies that the IMO reduction targets should take into account the ‘well-to-wake’ GHG emissions of marine fuels to ensure that the full carbon footprint of alternative marine fuels is considered in their reduction potential.

These measures will provide the needed incentive, and signal to fuel producers to promote the energy transition of shipping while contributing to a global level playing field.

What is the one thing shipowners can embed in theirs ESG strategies to support this vision?

The transition is happening. Decarbonization is happening. The 2023 IMO GHG Strategy provides a clear and predictable pathway towards decarbonization, which everyone can and should be part of.

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