The 83rd session of the Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) took place from April 7th to 11th, 2025 at the IMO headquarters in London. Chaired by Dr. Harry Conway of Liberia and Mr. Hanqiang Tan of Singapore as deputy chairman, the meeting focused on key initiatives to tackle climate change. The committee approved a draft legal text for the IMO Net-Zero Framework, aiming to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from international shipping through medium-term measures. These measures include technical and economic elements to align with reduction targets outlined in the 2023 strategy.
Additionally, the MEPC reviewed short-term reduction measures for greenhouse gas emissions implemented in 2022. These measures include the Energy Efficiency Existing Ship Index (EEXI), Ship Efficiency Management Plan (SEEMP), and Carbon Intensity Indicator (CII) evaluation scheme. The committee also approved changes to reduction factors for CII, access to fuel consumption data, and outlined a work plan for phase 2 of the review. Major updates were made to exhaust gas cleaning systems, black carbon emissions, and nitrogen oxide emissions.
The committee also addressed other environmental issues including marine plastic garbage, the naming of Emission Control Areas, protection of sensitive sea areas, and the Ballast Water Management Convention. Proposals were approved for a legally binding framework to control ship biofouling, assessing the Hong Kong Convention’s implementation, and developing guidelines for managing ammonia waters. Overall, the MEPC session marked significant progress in the global efforts to protect the marine environment and combat climate change through innovative regulatory frameworks and measures.
