Coronavirus: IMO postpones key meeting on reducing shipping emissions

(Climate Home News, 12 Mar 2020) The International Maritime Organisation (IMO) has postponed a significant meeting on environmental protection a day after the World Health Organisation declared the coronavirus outbreak a pandemic.

The UN body responsible for global shipping, which is based in London, also closed its headquarters to staff and visitors on Thursday and Friday as a precautionary measure.

The IMO put off talks by the Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC), which had been due to meet in London from 30 March to 3 April. The MEPC is reviewing proposals to improve the energy efficiency of ships.

A total of five IMO meetings have now been cancelled, including a working group on reducing greenhouse gas emissions from ships from 23-27 March.

The rescheduling of the meetings will be announced “in good time for delegates to make appropriate arrangements,” the IMO said.

External link

Climate Home News, 12 Mar 2020: Coronavirus: IMO postpones key meeting on reducing shipping emissions