Last week’s extraordinary session of the MEPC was scheduled to take a decision on whether to adopt the IMO Net Zero Framework.

Following a fraught and difficult meeting, in which various governments, led by the United States and Saudi Arabia, used procedural devices to prevent progress, late on the afternoon of Friday 17 October, Saudi Arabia requested a motion for the meeting to be adjourned for one year.

Following a roll call vote, the majority of the Committee decided to agree that the meeting should be adjourned. A copy of the press statement which ICS released immediately after the meeting is attached at Annex A. This includes links to the IMO Website and to the draft documents of Chapter 5 of Annex VI

The planned 20th Intersessional Working Group meeting, scheduled for week commencing 20th October, on the Reduction of GHG Emissions from Ships (ISWG-GHG 20) is still proceeding and the following matters will be discussed this week.

1. Development of new and/or revision of existing guidelines, provisions, guidance and other documents, as appropriate, for supporting the uniform and effective implementation of the IMO Net-Zero Framework: Fuel certification
2. ZNZ definition and/or reward
3. IMO Net-Zero Fund
4. GFI and GFI compliance approaches
5. IMO GFI Registry
6. Further consideration of the development of the IMO Life Cycle GHG Assessment (LCA) framework.
7. Finalization of the draft terms of reference for the Fifth IMO GHG Study.