Obstacles to reform at UN shipping agency threaten climate goals

Berlin, 15 November 2018 - The International Maritime Organization (IMO) Council should give the new working group reforming governance at the UN shipping agency a remit that allows it to effectively increase public scrutiny and civil society participation, Transparency International said today.

Transparency International’s assessment of the IMO’s governance structure published in July 2018 found a number of flaws in the IMO’s governance, including a disproportionate influence of private industry and an unequal influence of certain Member States in the policymaking process. The report also highlighted a significant lack of delegate accountability, with the public often unable to find out their national delegation’s position in debates and negotiations.

Following publication of Transparency International’s report, the IMO established a working group for reforming the governance of the agency, which regulates global shipping and has a crucial role to play in combatting climate change caused by greenhouse gas emissions.

In April 2018, the IMO’s Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) set a target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions from shipping by at least 50 per cent by 2050 compared to 2008, consistent with the goals of the Paris Agreement.

The IMO Council will set the terms of reference for the working group at its next meeting on 19 – 23 November 2018.

Transparency International is concerned that the UK, Cook Islands, Marshall Islands, Panama, United Arab Emirates and United States could hamper reform at the IMO. Last month, they signed and submitted an official document to the IMO warning that “further expansion of access to information” about the agency “could lead to outside influence”.

“Unfortunately the International Maritime Organization is far too susceptible to disproportionate influence from private interests and certain Member States, meaning that there could be obstacles to meeting the targets for emissions reduction set earlier this year,” said Rueben Lifuka, vice-chair of Transparency International. “This is why we want to see governance reform at the IMO. The agency needs to move towards a more open and transparent way of operating, with greater opportunities for public scrutiny and civil society engagement. The stakes are too high for the entire planet for the IMO to continue to operate as a closed shop.”