The IMO’s Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) held its 79th session from 12 to 16 December 2022 in London, during which it revised several measures to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the maritime sector. Having been under pressure to bring the carbon reduction ambitions of the shipping sector in line with those of the United Nations, the MEPC-79 revised the IMO’s strategies adding new measures such as the establishment of green corridors and cutting black carbon near the Arctic. During the meeting, the MEPC-79 looked into annexes of the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL) - the main international convention covering the prevention of pollution created by ships in the marine environment. New amendments to the MARPOL Annexes I, II, IV, V and VI were adopted covering pollution from oil, noxious liquid substances, sewage, garbage and gas emissions. The amendments allow ports in the Arctic region to enter into regional arrangements for port reception facilities. Port reception facilities receive and collect waste from ships. This is especially important for the Arctic area because of its remoteness, severe weather conditions and limited infrastructure. Another important outcome was establishing a Mediterranean Emission Control Area for sulphur oxides and particulate matter. This means that starting May 2025, the use of sulphur in fuel oil used on board ships in the entire Mediterranean Sea will be limited to 0.10% mass by mass (m/m). This move helps improve air quality and cleanliness for the Mediterranean population. The MEPC also discussed the designation of a Particularly Sensitive Sea Area (PSSA) in the North-West Mediterranean Sea in an attempt to protect whales, dolphins and porpoises from the risk of ship strikes and pollution. As for the highly controversial Carbon Intensity Index (CII), proposals to add corrections to the currently adopted rules were deferred to the committee’s next meeting (MEPC 80). This decision comes in the aftermath of the harsh criticism of several key players, including major carriers, who voiced their dissatisfaction with the CII’s calculation method. The IMO’s initial strategy will be further reviewed in the Intersessional Working Group on GHG Reduction (ISWG-GHG 14 in March 2023). It is expected the revised strategy will be adopted at MEPC 80 in July 2023.