International experts are meeting at IMO Headquarters this week, in the form of an Expert Workshop, to begin work on updating the inventory of greenhouse gases (GHG) from international shipping, with a view to providing reliable and up-to-date information on which IMO, through its Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC), might base its work on further measures to reduce GHG.
The Second IMO GHG Study 2009
estimated that international shipping emitted 870 million tonnes, or
about 2.7% of the global man-made emissions of CO2 in 2007. An updated
GHG inventory is considered necessary as the current estimate contained
in the Second study does not take account of the economic downturn
experienced globally since 2008. Exhaust gases are the primary source
of GHG emissions from ships, with carbon dioxide the most important GHG,
both in terms of quantity and of global warming potential. An updated
inventory would also provide a baseline to enable the impact to be
assessed of technical and operational energy efficiency measures for
international shipping that entered into force on 1 January 2013.
The MEPC, at its sixty-fourth session in October 2012 endorsed, in
principle, the outline for an update of the GHG emissions estimate. The
Expert Workshop, meeting from 26 February to 1 March 2013, will further
consider the methodology and assumptions to be used in the update. The
Expert Workshop is expected to provide a summary of its deliberations as
a report on its work to MEPC 65, meeting in May this year.
In addition to carbon dioxide (CO2), a global GHG inventory of emissions of GHGs and relevant substances emitted from ships, engaged in international transport could include: methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), perfluorocarbons (PFCs) and sulphur hexafluoride (SF6), subject to data availability.
Other relevant substances that may contribute to climate change
include: nitrogen oxides (NOx), non-methane volatile organic compounds
(NMVOC), carbon monoxide (CO), particulate matter (PM) and sulphur
oxides (SOx).
IMO has already adopted technical and operational measures to
reduce emissions of GHG from international shipping. The Energy
Efficiency Design Index (EEDI) was made mandatory for new ships and the
Ship Energy Efficiency Management Plan (SEEMP) for all ships, under
amendments to MARPOL Annex VI adopted in 2011. These amendments entered
into force on 1 January 2013.
An article explaining the technical and operational measures already adopted can be found here.
Post to be found at:
http://www.imo.org/MediaCentre/PressBriefings/Pages/06-ghg-expert-group.aspx
No comments:
Post a Comment