Governance at the International Maritime Organisation: the Case for Reform

The International Maritime Organisation (IMO), a United Nations’ specialised agency, creates “a regulatory framework for the shipping industry that is fair, effective, universally adopted and implemented." The shipping industry could contribute up to 17 per cent of global CO2 emissions by 2050 if left unregulated. Therefore, the IMO has an integral role in helping the shipping industry to meet the targets set out in the UN Sustainable Development Goal 13 on climate change and Goal 14 on oceans, as well as the targets of the Paris Agreement.

The goal of Transparency International’s governance assessment is to provide an overview of challenges existing in the IMO’s governance and decision-making processes and to provide recommendations for improvement to support its aptitude to develop and implement effective strategies and policies. The assessment identifies the key governance and anti-corruption measures in place in terms of transparency, accountability and integrity.