IMO Resolution MEPC.376(80): LCA Guidelines

The International Maritime Organization Marine Environment Protection Committee has adopted the Guidelines on Life Cycle GHG Intensity of Marine Fuels (LCA Guidelines).

Foreword

The Marine Environment Protection Committee, recalling Article 38(a) of the Convention on the International Maritime Organization (the Committee) concerning the functions of the Marine Environment Protection Committee conferred upon it by international conventions for the prevention and control of marine pollution from ships,

Recalling also that at its seventy-second session, the Committee adopted resolution MEPC.304(72) on Initial IMO Strategy on Reduction of GHG Emissions from Ships (Initial Strategy),

Noting that the Initial Strategy calls for the development of robust life cycle GHG/carbon intensity guidelines for all types of fuels, in order to prepare for an implementation programme for effective uptake of alternative low-carbon and zero-carbon fuels,

Noting also that at its eightieth session, the Committee adopted resolution MEPC.377(80) on the 2023 IMO Strategy on Reduction of GHG Emissions from Ships (2023 IMO Strategy) setting out the levels of ambition for the international shipping sector in reducing GHG emissions,

Noting further that the 2023 IMO Strategy provides that the levels of ambition and indicative checkpoints should take into account the well-to-wake GHG emissions of marine fuels as addressed in the guidelines on life cycle GHG intensity of marine fuels developed by the Organization,

Noting that the 2023 IMO Strategy provides that the basket of candidate mid-term GHG reduction measures should take into account the well-to-wake GHG emissions of marine fuels as addressed in the guidelines on life cycle GHG intensity of marine fuels developed by the Organization,

Having considered, at its eightieth session, the draft guidelines on life cycle GHG intensity of marine fuels (LCA Guidelines),

Adopts the Guidelines on life cycle GHG intensity of marine fuels (LCA Guidelines), as set out in the annex to the present resolution;

Agrees that any regulatory application and implications of the LCA Guidelines should be determined by the Committee in the process of developing regulatory provisions,

Requests Member Governments to bring the annexed Guidelines to the attention of shipowners, ship operators, shipbuilders, ship designers, energy companies, fuel producers, bunkering companies, engine manufacturers, and any other interested parties;

Agrees to keep these Guidelines under review in light of experience gained with their implementation.

Introduction

These guidelines provide guidance on life cycle GHG intensity assessment for all fuels and other energy carriers (e.g. electricity) used on board a ship.

These guidelines aim at covering the whole fuel life cycle (with specific boundaries), from feedstock extraction/cultivation/recovery, feedstock conversion to a fuel product, transportation as well as distribution/bunkering, and fuel utilization on board a ship.

These guidelines also specify sustainability themes/aspects for marine fuels and define a Fuel Lifecycle Label (FLL), which carries information about fuel type, feedstock (feedstock type and feedstock nature/carbon source), conversion/production process (process type and energy used in the process), GHG emission factors, information on fuel blends and sustainability themes/aspects.

These guidelines specify the elements of FLL subject to verification/certification and include a general procedure on how the certification scheme/standards could be identified.

Scope

The scope of these guidelines is to address well-to-tank (WtT), tank-to wake (TtW), and well-to-wake (WtW) greenhouse gases (GHG) intensity and sustainability themes/aspects related to marine fuels/energy carriers (e.g. electricity for shore power) used for ship propulsion and power generation onboard.

The relevant GHGs included are carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), and nitrous oxide (N2O).

These guidelines are not intended to provide guidance for a complete IMO GHG inventory for international shipping.

Emissions from cargo (e.g. volatile organic compounds (VOC)), or use of refrigerants are not included; other short-lived climate forcers and precursors such as non-methane volatile organic compounds (NMVOC), sulfur oxides (SOx), carbon monoxide (CO), particulate matter (PM), and Black Carbon are not part of the scope of these LCA guidelines.

MEPC.376(80) was adopted on 7 July 2023.