- IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez to represent the maritime sector at COP 29 in Baku, Azerbaijan.
- Focus on advancing IMO’s 2023 GHG reduction strategy and new mid-term decarbonization measures.
- COP 29 highlights cooperation between maritime, energy, and financial sectors for global climate action.
Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez will lead the International Maritime Organization (IMO) delegation at the annual UN Climate Change Conference (COP 29) in Baku, Azerbaijan, from 11 to 22 November 2024. The conference will convene 40,000 delegates, including world leaders, civil society, and private sectors, to address climate challenges, reports IMO.
Maritime Goals for Net-Zero by 2050
Aligned with the Paris Agreement, the IMO has set ambitious net-zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions goals for shipping by or around 2050, as laid out in the 2023 IMO Strategy to Reduce GHG Emissions from Ships.
Secretary-General Dominguez will present the latest progress on this strategy at COP 29.
Mid-Term Measures for Maritime Decarbonization
At COP 29, Dominguez will discuss binding economic and technical ‘mid-term GHG reduction measures’ currently under negotiation.
These include proposed global standards and pricing mechanisms to support decarbonization in the maritime sector, as developed under the IMO’s recent strategy.
Importance of Cross-Sector Cooperation
COP provides a platform to emphasize the role of cooperation with the energy and financial sectors, along with cargo owners.
This collaboration is vital for achieving decarbonization, as shipping is central to global trade and energy transition efforts.
IMO Submission to UNFCCC SBSTA 61
Ahead of COP 29, IMO submitted a report to the UNFCCC’s Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice (SBSTA 61).
It detailed ongoing actions and achievements, particularly those from the MEPC 82 meeting held in late 2024.
Outcomes from MEPC 82
The MEPC 82 advanced discussions on mid-term GHG reduction measures, proposing a global GHG pricing mechanism and a marine fuel standard.
This session produced the draft “IMO Net-Zero Framework” to guide future negotiations, with adoption planned for late 2025 and enactment in 2027.
IMO Participation in COP 29 Maritime Events
Secretary-General Dominguez, along with IMO’s Climate and Clean Air Team, will attend COP 29 events and bilateral meetings.
Highlights include a collaborative side event with UNECE and ICAO titled “Decarbonizing Transport: Policies & Strategies For Aviation, Maritime and Land,” scheduled for 20 November.
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Source: IMO
