Secretary-General Welcomes Steps by Maritime Organization to Address Greenhouse-gas Emissions, Urges further Progress in Meeting Paris Agreement Objectives

The following statement was issued today by the Spokesman for UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon:

The Secretary-General welcomes the steps agreed upon today by the members of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) to address greenhouse-gas emissions from international shipping.

This includes efforts to limit sulphur emissions, a mandatory data system for fuel consumption; strengthened implementation of energy-efficiency regulations; and a road map for developing by 2023 a comprehensive IMO strategy on reduction of greenhouse-gas emissions from ships.

Welcoming these important steps, the Secretary-General calls for urgent and ambitious action to limit the greenhouse-gas emissions from global shipping.  Emissions from maritime transport are projected to rise significantly given the critical role that shipping plays in the global economy.

The Secretary-General calls on IMO members in partnership with the maritime industry to promote further progress on the reduction of greenhouse-gas emissions from ships to contribute to the objective of the Paris Agreement on climate change, which enters into force on 4 November.