Update of the GHG emission estimate for
international shipping
The MEPC, at its sixty-third session, had noted that
uncertainty existed in the estimates and projections
of emissions from international shipping and agreed
that further work should take place to provide reliable
and up-to-date information for the Committee to
base its decisions on. At the sixty-fourth session of
the MEPC, an outline document regarding the need
for an update of the GHG emissions estimate for
international shipping prepared by the IMO Secretariat
was considered (IMO, 2012e). The outline document
highlights the need for an updated GHG inventory, as
the current estimate contained in the Second IMO
GHG Study 2009 (IMO, 2009) does not take into
account the economic downturn experienced globally
since 2008.34 In addition, analytical work undertaken
since the publication of the Second IMO GHG Study
2009 and information obtained through analysis of the
Automatic Identification System (AIS), as well as other
sources for ship activity data, indicate that some of
the assumptions used at that time may need to be
reconsidered. The document proposed that the update
would build on the methodology developed under the
Second IMO GHG Study 2009 and would be based
on available data on fleet composition and size as well
as on other technical ship-specific data. The inventory
would include current global emissions of GHGs and
relevant substances emitted from ships of 100 GT and
above engaged in international transport.
In the context of consideration of the IMO Secretariat
document, the MEPC report (IMO, 2012b) expressly
notes the following views from delegations:
• An update of the GHG estimate for international shipping
must be undertaken in a fair, open and transparent manner
and in coordination with the Subsidiary Body for Scientific
and Technological Advice of the UNFCCC, whose
agenda includes a specific item for the consideration of
emissions from fuel used for international aviation and
maritime transport, and that this work should take into
consideration the methodological work developed by
the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC);
• Further consideration is needed to be given to
ensuring the estimates related to those made by other
international organizations, that the work is scientifically
based, equitable and balanced, which will be tasked to
undertake the work, how the data will be used and the
methodology to be used;
• There is an urgent need for information on the actual
fuel consumption of ships and hence highlighted the
need of moving forward with a bottom-up (ship activity)
approach of the GHG emissions estimate as well as top down
analysis which has been used in the past; and
• Monitoring and reporting of data was also important