COP30: Countries must step up action on shipping, after U.S. attempt to sabotage International Maritime Organization

On Energy and Transport Day at COP30, Environmental Defense Fund, Pacific Environment, Seas At Risk, Solutions for Our Climate, and Transport & Environment call on national governments to urgently accelerate action to reduce shipping emissions, especially following the recent U.S.-led postponement in the adoption of a binding global shipping measure at the International Maritime Organization (IMO). The delay in adoption of the IMO Net-Zero Framework (NZF), the first UN-mandated fuel mandate and carbon pricing mechanism on any sector, by one year risks slowing down industry-wide decarbonization efforts at a moment when decisive action is needed most.

Shipping accounts for roughly 3% of global greenhouse gas emissions, and the IMO’s 2023 Strategy sets a clear pathway to achieve net-zero emissions from shipping by 2050, with interim goals for 2030 and 2040 that countries have already committed to deliver. While Member States continue negotiations on the NZF, national governments must step up and act domestically and regionally to keep the transition on course, ensuring investment, infrastructure, and innovation continue to drive the industry forward.

We therefore call on all governments to commit to the following national actions for shipping decarbonization:

• Develop and implement a national action plan on international shipping emissions
• Set clear domestic targets and mandates for low- and zero-emission marine fuels and vessels
• Deploy financial and regulatory incentives to accelerate ship efficiency and fuel transition
• Enhance port infrastructure and support for alternative fuels, as well as technologies such as wind propulsion and electrification
• Ensure a just and globally equitable transition, especially for developing and small-island nations
• Support urgent action on short-lived climate forcers (methane and black carbon) emitted by international shipping

John Yum, Head of Shipping Team, Solutions for Our Climate, said: "The postponement of the IMO’s Net Zero Framework is deeply disappointing, but it also gives governments a chance to take meaningful action. Instead of just waiting for international negotiations to resume, countries like Korea should take immediate steps to decarbonize their shipping sectors — for instance, by continuing to commit to expanding green shipping corridors and increasing investment in ZNZ fuels. Taking proactive steps now will demonstrate governments’ commitment to achieving net-zero shipping by 2050 and help ensure that, when the IMO reconvenes, it can move forward with stronger ambition rather than face another setback."

Davina Hurt, Climate Policy Director, Pacific Environment, said: “We now face a reality we long anticipated, overshooting the 1.5°C target is inevitable. Member states were bullied into delaying the International Maritime Organization’s Net-Zero Framework, but obstruction by bad actors cannot continue to force inaction at a time when decisive action is most needed. We call on all member states and zero-emission leaders like California to step up and act on climate change by truly decarbonizing maritime shipping. There is only one planet. We must stand together for the health of our ocean and for future generations. Now is the time to act.”

Mark Brownstein, Senior Vice President, Energy Transition, Environmental Defense Fund, said: “The development and deployment of clean, alternative fuels for global shipping is not only good for stabilizing the climate and improving public health—it also creates economic opportunities for those countries and companies that embrace innovation. The International Maritime Organization’s Net-Zero Framework is rooted in this reality. Leaders can and must act now to implement it. The future of the industry is not in its past—it begins with action today.”

Sian Prior, Shipping Director, Seas At Risk, said: “We simply cannot afford to keep delaying climate action. In the face of the climate crisis, countries need to start taking leaps, not steps, towards decarbonizing shipping, including addressing short-lived climate pollutants such as methane and black carbon. Meanwhile, bullying tactics must be called out and multilateralism must take precedence. Steering the ship towards greener shipping doesn't have to be overcomplicated: scaling up wind propulsion, finding financial incentives to adopt cleaner fuels whilst ensuring a just transition are achievable if we all work together.”

As the global community gathers in Belém, we urge governments to seize this opportunity to take concrete actions that will ensure the maritime industry contributes its fair share to combating climate change.

Background information:

Global shipping carries around 80% of all traded goods and is almost exclusively powered by fossil fuels. The volume of stuff shipped across the world’s oceans has quadrupled since the 1980s, having devastating impacts on our health and the climate:

• Shipping emissions have been rising steadily, representing around 3% of all greenhouse gas emissions, and are expected to increase by up to 50% by 2050 if no action is taken.
• Global shipping is estimated to be responsible for nearly 36,000 premature deaths every year, and more than $160 billion in premature death-related costs annually.
• The use of alternative fuels such as LNG and biofuels poses significant health risks and damages the climate.