Experts discuss fears on proposed IMO ships greenhouse gas emission policies

A cargo Ship wait for offloading at Mombasa Port. April 17, 2025. [Omondi Onyango, Standard] Experts are burning the midnight oil to ensure the country gets justice in the new maritime environmental policies ahead of 2028. The guidelines on greenhouse gas emissions from ships are expected to come into force in three years. The experts are concerned that many ships might fail to comply with the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) standards on fuel and hence stop operations, leading to a disruption in the supply chain. This could affect the import and export of the food, among other items, causing a rise in prices. Institute for Law and Environment Governance (Ileg) Manager Francis Oremo said there was a need to strengthen Kenya's environmental maritime governance and its engagement in IMO policy-making processes to address the impending threats, as over 80 per cent of international trade is carried by sea. "Many ships might not comply with the new IMO policy on GHG emissions based on the fuel they use, and this is likely to lead to disruption of the global food supply chain," said Dr Oremo during a meeting on environmental maritime governance at the Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute (Kemfri) in Mombasa last week. His remarks were echoed by Ileg Director Benson Ochieng, who noted that Africa depended much on maritime transport for agricultural products, and if many ships are rendered obsolete the region would suffer. The meeting explored the potential implications of the newly approved Chapter 5 of the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL) Annex VI for Africa's maritime sector, including impacts on food security, and called for a just energy transition. The experts have since embarked on the Environmental Maritime Governance in Kenya (EMG-K): Policy, Practice and Prospects for the Abatement of Shipping Air Emissions project, a research project that aims to explore Kenya's environmental maritime governance in relation to its engagement in the IMO policy-making, implementation and enforcement. With the support of the Danida Fellowship Centre, EMG-K is geared towards strengthening the country's maritime capacity and international influence. The project is being implemented by a consortium comprising Ileg, the Centre for Advanced Studies in Environmental Law and Policy of the University of Nairobi, and the Copenhagen Business School in Denmark. The 83rd session of the Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC 83), held in London in April approved the inclusion of MARPOL Annex VI, forming the basis of the IMO net-zero framework. Formal adoption of these amendments is expected at a special MEPC session in October, with entry into force projected for 2027 subject to ratification by two-thirds of the parties to Annex VI. The framework introduces a dual policy approach - a global fuel standard and a GHG pricing mechanism. The levy that is expected to take effect in 2028 will apply to large ships (over 5,000 gross tonnage) and aims to reduce emissions by 2050. The proposed carbon levy on shipping will add $150 (Sh19,350) to $300 (Sh38,700) per shipping container, which could lead to higher prices for fuel and other imported commodities in the country. The fund is expected to generate between $40 billion and $60 billion annually by 2030. Also, ships operating at zero or near-zero emissions will be eligible for financial rewards, creating a market-based instrument to stimulate investment in low-emission technologies. Newsdesk@standardmedia.co.ke A key feature of this framework is the establishment of the IMO Net-Zero Fund, which will channel revenues generated through the carbon pricing mechanism into research and development, port infrastructure, and transition support, particularly in developing countries. In a paper presented at the Mombasa meeting titled "Policy, Technology and Just Transition in Marine Transport Sector", University of Nairobi researchers Elvin Nyukuri and Fred Kung'u said Kenya's marine sector was well-placed to lead in blue economy decarbonisation but said there was a need for financial support. They also said bridging the equity gap and achieving carbon-neutral shipping required simultaneous reforms in energy access, digital integration and climate policy enforcement. The scholars noted that Kenya was embracing zero-carbon technologies within its marine sector, including strategic port transition, ecosystem-based mitigation and innovative energy solutions. They noted that most are in early or pilot stages; partnerships with regional and international bodies such as IMO or Maritime Technology Cooperation Centre for Africa (MTCC) are catalysing growth. "Financing models, technological know-how and workforce readiness remain key bottlenecks needing policy and investment support," they noted. The researchers noted that to achieve a just transition in Kenya's shipping sector, there was a need to decarbonise the port infrastructure, especially at Mombasa and Lamu ports, through clean energy, efficiency systems and digital logistics. On equity in transition, they called for protection of workers, coastal communities and informal actors like small-scale traders from job loss or exclusion. They also called for diplomatic engagement at IMO, particularly advocating for technology transfer and financial support for countries in the global south. On climate law reform, the scholar called for the amendment of the Climate Change Act (2023) to include maritime and port decarbonisation with social justice mandates. "Transition to net zero will be neither sustainable nor credible if it creates or worsens social inequalities. A backlash is likely if the transition is not perceived to be just," they warned. The researchers also called for an amendment of the Merchant Shipping Act to introduce provisions for green shipping corridors, labour transition safeguards and zero-emission standards.

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