International Maritime Organisation (IMO)

Recently, US President Donald Trump expressed his outrage over the International Maritime Organisation's (IMO) plan to vote on imposing a carbon emissions price on global shipping. He criticized the move, calling it a “Global Green New Scam Tax.” This has sparked a debate about the potential impacts of environmental regulations on the international shipping industry.

About the International Maritime Organisation (IMO)

The IMO is a specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) that focuses on ensuring the safety, security, and environmental sustainability of international shipping. Here's a closer look at the IMO’s role and structure:

Core Functions:

• Safety and Security: The IMO establishes regulations aimed at improving the safety and security of shipping operations worldwide, including the safety of ships, their crews, and the cargo they transport.

• Marine Pollution Prevention: One of its significant roles is to prevent pollution from ships, especially pollution that harms marine ecosystems.

• Regulatory Framework: The IMO creates global standards for the shipping industry that are meant to be universally adopted and implemented by its member states.

• Environmental Standards: The IMO is also actively involved in sustainable shipping practices, such as regulating carbon emissions and reducing the environmental footprint of international shipping.

Key Role in UN SDGs:

The IMO directly contributes to the UN Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 14, which aims to conserve and sustainably use oceans, seas, and marine resources. By regulating the shipping industry’s environmental impact, the IMO helps protect marine ecosystems, which are crucial for biodiversity, food security, and climate regulation.

Organisational Structure:

• The Assembly: The supreme governing body of the IMO, composed of all member states. It meets every two years to approve the work programme, budget, and to elect members to the Council.

• The Council: This acts as the executive organ of the IMO, overseeing the organisation’s operations between Assembly sessions.

• Committees: The IMO has five major committees that develop policies and regulations:

  • Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) is responsible for environmental protection, including emission standards for ships.

  • Other committees include those focused on maritime safety, legal matters, and shipping standards.

Funding:

The IMO is funded primarily through mandatory contributions from its member states, with additional funding coming from voluntary donations and commercial revenue (such as from shipping-related services).

IMO’s Efforts to Tackle Carbon Emissions in Shipping

The IMO has long been working on strategies to reduce emissions from ships, which are a significant source of greenhouse gases. Shipping contributes a substantial portion of global carbon emissions, so regulating emissions within the industry is critical for meeting international climate goals.