International Maritime Organization (IMO) | Inuit Circumpolar Council Canada

International Maritime Organization (IMO)

ICC has been attending an important United Nations forum called the International Maritime Organization (IMO) for many years. The IMO was created in 1958 to oversee and regulate shipping around the world. It is based in London, UK.

Bringing the Inuit voice to this forum is important because we are a marine people, we rely on the sea for much of our food, and our goods are shipped to us during annual sealifts. Our way of life is intricately tied to the Arctic ecosystem and our culture and knowledge systems. We depend on the Arctic sea ice, floe edge, and polynyas for food security.

Due to the effects of climate change, the Arctic is becoming ice-free in the summer months, resulting in a large increase in ship traffic in our waters. An Arctic Council report looking at ship traffic from 2013-2019 showed a 75% increase in distance sailed, and 25% increase in unique ships. This trend is expected to continue.

ICC is the first Indigenous Peoples Organization to gain provisional consultative status at the IMO. We received this in November of 2021. On this page you can find related documents to our application for permanent consultative status. Also you will find documents related to the issues we are speaking out on at the IMO, such as Black Carbon, Underwater Noise, and the use of Heavy Fuel Oils (HFOs) in the Arctic.

Under the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), Inuit and other Indigenous peoples worldwide have inherent rights to these territories and resources. It is ICC’s hope to find meaningful and creative ways to bring UNDRIP to all aspects of global governance, and it is our view that the IMO and its member organizations will benefit greatly from this approach.

ICC is also interested in the human element and promoting safe operations for seafarers, particularly Indigenous community harvesters and sea lift operations. Inuit are ship owners and operators, and have an interest in ensuring a working environment which benefits people and maintains cultural practices and livelihoods.

International Maritime Organization (IMO) Position Paper

Inuit Circumpolar Council (ICC) – version November 22, 2023

Documents ICC has submitted to the IMO:

ICC submission to the IMO on the urgency and solutions to mitigating Black Carbon emissions in Inuit Nunaat (PPR 10-6-5) English Document

ICC submission to the IMO on the need to evaluate the implementation and begin to update the Polar Code (MSC 107-17-23)

ICC letter to the IMO Secretary General requesting provisional consultative status be made permanent with full consultative status

ICC submission, with co-sponsors, on the need to include Black Carbon in the life cycle analysis of marine fuels (MEPC 78-INF.25)

ICC submission, with cosponsors, on the use of exhaust gas scrubbers and conflicts with UNDRIP and UNCLOS (MEPC 79-5-3)

ICC submission, with co-sponsors, on the urgency of mitigating Black Carbon emissions from shipping and a proposal on how to put in place mandatory reduction measures (MEPC 79-5-5)

ICC submission recommending a stand alone ‘Arctic Annex’ to the revised underwater radiated noise guidelines (SDC 9-5-3)

Guidelines for underwater radiated noise reduction in Inuit Nunaat and the Arctic

Reduction of GHG emissions from ships