The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has announced that discussions on a proposed Net Zero Framework for global shipping will be adjourned for a year.
Amid pressure from nations such as the United States and Saudi Arabia, IMO members had been under pressure to scrap the proposed net-zero targets, but instead, following a motion tabled by Saudi Arabia, the Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) announced it would adjourn its extraordinary session for 12 months.
‘The extraordinary session will be reconvened in 12 months’ time,’ the IMO said in a statement.’ ‘In the interim, Member States will continue to work towards consensus on the IMO Net Zero Framework.’
The IMO added that the Intersessional Working Group on the Reduction on Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Ships, which is set to meet between 20 and 24 October 2025, will press ahead with discussions on the guidelines for implementing the Net Zero Framework, despite the postponement.
‘Not the end of this journey’
Commenting, Jesse Fahnestock, director of decarbonisation at the Global Maritime Forum, said that the postponement “is a disappointing setback for shipping, but not the end of this journey. The adjournment for a full year creates serious challenges for meeting the timelines in the Net-Zero Framework agreed in April and will make delivery of the sector’s decarbonisation targets even more challenging.
“We encourage Member States that agreed on the framework in April to re-confirm their commitment to multilateralism and continue the urgent work of developing guidelines and adopting a regulatory framework that can deliver on the IMO’s unanimously agreed Greenhouse Gas Strategy.”
Net Zero Framework
Central to the Net Zero Framework are two components: a global fuel standard to regulate the carbon intensity of marine fuels and a global pricing mechanism for GHG emissions from international shipping.
The Framework was approved in draft form at MEPC’s 83rd session in April 2025, and if approved will form part of Chapter 5 of a revised MARPOL Annex VI. MARPOL is the main international convention covering prevention of pollution of the marine environment by ships from operational or accidental causes.
The measure would also align with the IMO’s 2023 Strategy for the Reduction of GHG Emissions from Ships.
‘We call on industry to keep exploring innovative decarbonisation solutions, and forward-looking states to champion ambitious policies that can drive progress in shipping’s transition to net zero,’ the Global Maritime Forum added. Read more here and here.
