International Maritime Organization to negotiate on measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions of ships

The Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) will meet in London on 7–11 April 2025. The objective of the Committee’s 83rd session is to agree on legally binding measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from shipping. The reduction targets have been agreed on in the IMO’s greenhouse gas strategy.

The Committee aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through regulation that consists of a technical and an economic element. The Committee is expected to confirm that the technical element would be a global marine fuel standard designed to gradually lower the greenhouse gas intensity of marine fuels. Meanwhile, the economic element would provide an incentive for the shipping industry to use cleaner fuels. The regulation as a whole and its method of implementation will be discussed at this session. 

Finland is of the opinion that the proceeds from the economic element should be transferred to an international fund. Based on Finland’s view, any funds raised should be spent on the rapid development and deployment of solutions that reduce emissions from ships. In addition, special circumstances, such as the passage of ships in ice-covered areas, must be considered in the allocation of funds.

The goal of IMO is to reach carbon neutrality in maritime transport by or around 2050, taking national circumstances into account. By 2030, greenhouse gas emissions from ships must be reduced by at least 20 per cent compared to 2008. The interim target set for 2040 is to lower emissions by at least 70 per cent.

Finland holds that an ambitious global emission reduction measure would even out both the imbalance in international regulation of maritime emissions and the competitive environment of shipping and business between the EU and the rest of the world. Reductions in emissions from maritime transport should primarily be promoted through sufficiently determined global measures. If determined global actions can be introduced, the significant double burden with respect to EU actions will have to be dismantled. Finland considers it important that the safe passage of ships in ice-covered areas is taken into account in IMO regulation. 

The 83rd session of the Marine Environment protection Committee will also discuss specifications to the existing regulations on energy efficiency and carbon intensity of ships, the regulation of ballast water of ships and the option of regulating underwater noise. The Finnish delegation includes representatives of the Ministry of Transport and Communications, the Ministry of the Environment, the Finnish Transport and Communications Agency (Traficom), the Finnish Meteorological Institute and the Government of Åland. 

What’s next?

The final decisions concerning the package of measures to regulate greenhouse gas emissions are to be made in October 2025. If this is achieved, the agreed measures would enter into force in 2027 in accordance with the IMO’s greenhouse gas strategy.

Inquiries:

Ministry of Transport and Communications:
Eero Hokkanen, Chief Specialist, Deputy Permanent Representative of Finland to the IMO, tel. +358 50 476 0401, eero.hokkanen(at)gov.fi

Finnish Transport and Communications Agency Traficom:

Anita Mäkinen, Chief Specialist, Deputy Permanent Representative of Finland to the IMO, tel. +358 40 162 4592, anita.makinen(at)traficom.fi