6 March 2009: The Second Intersessional Meeting of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Working Group on Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions from Ships is scheduled to take place from 9-13 March 2009, in London, UK. The meeting is expected to bring together over 200 delegates to finalize the Energy Efficiency Design Index for new ships and the revised Interim Guidelines on the Energy Efficiency Operational Index. The Group will also consider the introduction of a management tool for all ships, guidance on best practices and other voluntary operational measures, and possible impacts of the measures envisaged on the shipping sector.

A report of the group’s discussions will be forwarded to the 59th session of the IMO Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC), which will meet from 13-17 July 2009, at the same venue. MEPC 59 will report on the measures agreed to reduce GHG from ships to the 15th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UNFCCC, in December 2009, in Copenhagen, Denmark. [IMO Press Release]