RECALLING Article 38(a) of the Convention on the International Maritime Organization
(the Organization) concerning the functions of the Marine Environment Protection
Committee (the Committee) conferred upon it by international conventions for the
prevention and control of marine pollution from ships,
HAVING ADOPTED resolution MEPC.304(72) on Initial IMO Strategy on reduction
of GHG emissions from ships (the Initial Strategy),
NOTING that the Initial Strategy includes, inter alia, a candidate short-term measure to
encourage the development and update of national action plans to develop policies and
strategies to address GHG emissions from international shipping in accordance with
guidelines to be developed by the Organization, taking into account the need to avoid
regional or unilateral measures,
NOTING ALSO the role of Member States in extending the emission reduction efforts to all
shipping-related sectors which are not necessarily covered by the Organization's
conventions,
NOTING FURTHER resolution MEPC.323(74) on Invitation to Member States to encourage
voluntary cooperation between the port and shipping sectors to contribute to
reducing GHG emissions from ships,
RECOGNIZING that many Member States are already taking actions at national level to
facilitate the reduction of GHG emissions from ships,
COMMENDS those Member States that have already prepared National Actions Plans and
encourages them to share their experiences with the Organization,
RECOGNIZING that IMO has, in 2015, launched the Global Maritime Energy Efficiency
Partnership (GloMEEP) Project, with 10 developing countries as Lead Pilot Countries
(LPCs). Under the project, by offering several generic guide documents, the Organization
has successfully assisted LPCs to develop national strategies to address emissions from
ships,
RECOGNIZING ALSO the value of mobilizing national resources, promoting experience and
information sharing and cooperation for all national stakeholders,
HAVING CONSIDERED the recommendation of the sixth session of the Intersessional Meeting
of the Working Group on Reduction of GHG emissions from ships (ISWG-GHG 6),
1 INVITES Member States to voluntarily submit their National Action Plans to the
Organization, outlining respective policies and actions, as soon as possible, and
provide updates, as relevant, thereafter;
2 SUGGESTS the National Action Plans could include but are not limited to: (a) improving
domestic institutional and legislative arrangements for the effective implementation of
existing IMO instruments, (b) developing activities to further enhance the energy
efficiency of ships, (c) initiating research and advancing the uptake of alternative
low-carbon and zero-carbon fuels, (d) accelerating port emission reduction activities,
consistent with resolution MEPC.323(74), (e) fostering capacity-building,
awareness-raising and regional cooperation and (f) facilitating the development of
infrastructure for green shipping;
3 INVITES ALSO Member States to elaborate on those arrangements (legal, policy,
institutional, etc.) that they put in place or plan to do so to support emission
reduction from ships, in accordance with their national conditions, circumstances and
priorities;
4 ENCOURAGES those Member States to initiate early actions to facilitate the reduction of
GHG emissions from ships without awaiting the entry into force of measures in the IMO
context;
5 REQUESTS the Secretariat to continue to provide guidance and any further action which
may be taken (e.g. through the GloMEEP, GMN and Green Voyage 2050 projects) to assist
Member States including developing countries, in particular SIDS and LDCs, for the
development of National Action Plans;
6 REQUESTS ALSO the Secretariat to facilitate the sharing of relevant information
provided in the submitted National Action Plans;
7 REQUESTS FURTHER the Member States to bring this resolution to the attention of all
stakeholders on a national scale, including Administrations, ports, ship designers,
engine manufacturers, fuel suppliers, seafarers and other interested groups.