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The First Intersessional Meeting of IMO's Working Group on Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Ships will be held next week in Oslo, Norway (23rd to 27th June, 2008).

The week-long session is tasked with developing the technical basis for the reduction mechanisms that may form part of a future IMO regime to control greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from international shipping. More than 180 delegates comprising experts from all over the world are registered for attendance in Oslo.

Although, to date, no mandatory GHG instrument for international shipping has been adopted, IMO has given extensive consideration to the matter and is currently working in accordance with an ambitious work plan, due to culminate in 2009 with the adoption of a binding instrument for all ships. IMO is working to have measures in place to control GHG emissions from international shipping before the first commitment period under the Kyoto Protocol expires at the end of 2011.

The fifty-seventh session of the MEPC agreed in April 2008 on the fundamental principles for a coherent and comprehensive future IMO framework for a binding GHG instrument for international shipping.

The Intersessional Meeting in Oslo will further address market-based, operational and technical measures. These will include the development of a mandatory CO2 Design Index for new ships and the completion of a CO2 Operational Index, as well as further development of mechanisms with GHG-reduction potential for international shipping.

The meeting will also examine so-called clean development mechanisms, emissions trading schemes and a gloal levy/hybrid mechanism. A review of best practices for voluntary implementation will also be carried out.

MEPC 58 will be held in London from October 6th to 10th. It is expected to approve the reduction mechanisms developed by the Intersessional Meeting, with a view to them forming part of the future IMO regime applying to all ships. MEPC 58 is also expected to consider the related legal aspects and decide whether the GHG regulations should form part of an existing convention or whether an entirely new instrument should be developed and adopted.

MEPC 58 will also decide on the work needed prior to MEPC 59, which is to be held in July 2009. At this meeting the final adoption of a coherent and comprehensive IMO regime to control GHG emissions from ships engaged in international trade is expected to take place.