The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has closed its headquarters in London and postponed a session of its Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) due to the rampaging coronavirus disease otherwise called covid-19.
The IMO said the moves followed an assessment on Wednesday by the World Health Organization (WHO), which said the virus can be characterized as a pandemic. It added that IMO staff were working from home where possible.
The key MEPC committee was meant to have convened on March 30 to April 3 to discuss measures to cut carbon emissions from ships.
The IMO has already postponed other meetings in March due to the virus.
Global shipping accounts for 2.2% of the world’s CO2 emissions, and the industry is under pressure to reduce those and other pollution. About 90% of world trade is transported by sea.