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ships might become more energy-efficient, from trim optimization and hull cleaning to limit frictional drag, through to the potential use of solar and wind power. The Global Environment Facility (GEF)-United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)-IMO Global Maritime Energy Efficiency Partnership Project (GloMEEP) is helping targeted countries bring maritime energy efficiency into the mainstream within their own development policies and programmes.It has established a public-private sector partnership, the ‘Global Industry Alliance (GIA) to support Low Carbon Shipping’. The GIA brings together a range of maritime private industry champions to collectively identify and develop innovative solutions to support overcoming barriers to the uptake of energy efficiency technologies and operational measures.The European Union-funded project, Capacity Building for Climate Change Mitigation in the Maritime Shipping Sector, has established a global network of Maritime Technology Cooperation Centres (MTCCS) in Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, Latin America and the Pacific. The MTCCs are being resourced to become regional centres of excellence, to improve compliance with existing and future international maritime energy-efficiency regulations. They will also help countries develop national maritime energy-efficiency policies and measures, promote the uptake of low-carbon technologies and operations in maritime transport, and establish voluntary pilot data-collection and reporting systems. Concurrently, steps are being taken towards considering further measures to address greenhouse gas emissions from ships. The mandatory collection and reporting of fuel-oil consumption data for ships of 5,000 gross tonnage and above will begin from 2019. This will provide a firm statistical basis for an objective, transparent and inclusive policy debate in IMO’s Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC), the forum where all environmental matters relating to shipping are discussed. IMO Member States have pledged to produce a comprehensive strategy for reducing greenhouse gas emissions from ships. An initial strategy is set to be adopted in 2018, followed by a revised strategy in 2023, benefitting from statistical information from mandatory reporting. The world will be watching IMO and looking for something of real substance, an initial GHG strategy that will provide a firm basis for further work. It is my belief that IMO Member States stand ready to deliver on this. ■ABOUT THE AUTHORKitack Lim was elected Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization by the 114th session of the IMO Council in June 2015 for a four-year period beginning 1 January 2016. The election was endorsed by IMO’s Assembly at its 29th session in November 2015. Mr Lim (Republic of Korea) is the eighth elected Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization. ABOUT THE INTERNATIONAL MARITIME ORGANIZATION (IMO)The International Maritime Organization is the United Nations specialized agency with responsibility for the safety and security of shipping and the prevention of marine pollution by ships. For more information visit: www.imo.org.“IMO’S WORK TO MITIGATE THE THREAT OF INVASIVE SPECIES IN SHIPS’ BALLAST WATER HELPS PROTECT MARINE BIODIVERSITY”Pictured: Kitack LimGLOBAL VOICES 097