Speech Acts Analysis of Resolution MEPC.377(80): 2023 IMO Strategy on Reduction of GHG Emissions from Ships

Abstract

This study examines speech actions within the international policy document RESOLUTION MEPC.377(80): 2023 IMO Strategy on Reduction of GHG Emissions from Ships, employing a descriptive qualitative methodology grounded in Weigand’s (2010) dialogic speech act theory. The research focuses on the Vision and Levels of Ambition sections, which outline the trajectory of the International Maritime Organization's strategy to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions from the international shipping sector, aiming for a net-zero emissions objective by 2050. A descriptive qualitative method is employed to analyze the data. The study results indicate that the IMO policy statement serves both as a regulatory tool and as a medium for institutional communication, encompassing a series of dialogic speech acts. Three predominant categories of speech acts were identified: declarative (primarily encompassing institutional promises and commitments), directive (manifesting as invitations, encouragement, and implicit demands directed at member states), and representative (notably assertive acts that underscore beliefs and strategic information). The three categories of speaking actions function synergistically to establish legitimacy, urgency, and the trajectory of collective action among IMO member nations to achieve carbon-neutral shipping. This study expands the theory of dialogic speech acts to analyze international ecological policy texts, demonstrating that IMO strategic policies are formulated through dialogic procedures that promote understanding and awareness.