IT IS interesting to see how the same event can generate very different reactions. On Friday the most recent, the 74th, session of the International Maritime Organization's (IMO) Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC 74) came to an end after a fortnight of deliberations at the UN agency's London headquarters.

One response was "International shipping on track to meet 2030 CO2 reduction target following critical UN IMO meeting". Another was: "IMO responds to climate emergency with two more weeks of procedural wrangling".

That second, highly critical comment came from Transport & Environment and Seas at Risk, from the Europe-based environmental campaign grouping Clean Shipping Coalition, who declared themselves to be "appalled at the complete lack of ambition shown by the IMO".