Member states of the IMO set to decide if its proposed net zero ambitions will come into force in April 2027.
The International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) Net Zero Framework is “not perfect” says Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez but without global regulation regional measures will proliferate.
Speaking at the opening of the Extraordinary MEPC meeting on 14 October Dominguez recognised the concerns of both those who believe the NZF is not ambitious enough, and others feel it will place too much of a burden on the industry.
“Some of you are of the view that there will not be sufficient alternative fuels available to ensure compliance, whilst others believe that robust global regulations will send a clear demand signal to fuel and energy producers. Some of you would have preferred a stronger commitment to supporting developing states. Others would prefer additional support for early-movers,” he said.
The public debate over the NZF has become increasingly divisive in recent weeks with the Trump administration in the US going as far as to threaten crew visa restrictions, additional port fees, and the blocking of vessels calling the States that are flagged with nations that support the framework.
The Secretary-General tried to set a tone of diplomacy rather than conflict at the start of the meeting. “All these views continue to be valuable. And also during this week all these different positions will be respected.”
Dominguez sees the framework as better than the alternatives even though he does say it’s “not perfect”. However it provides a balanced way to work on different elements ahead of entry in to force in 2027. He said it was a set of goal-based provisions that did not exclude any specific fuel or technology from compliance.
“I am confident that the various proposals that have already been submitted regarding the reward, fuel certification, well-to-wake emissions, or the fund will address remaining concerns and provide additional certainty,” Dominguez said.
Warning on the alternative to the NZF he said: “The energy and digital transition of shipping have already started. However, the absence of global regulations will increase the costs of this transition in the long run. It will incite a proliferation of regional and national climate measures leading to inefficiency and a myriad of emissions pricing schemes, without IMO – all of you the Member States – or the industry having a say in how to use the collected revenue.”
To move forward towards entry into force the Net Zero Framework will require a yes vote from a two-thirds majority of member states on the final day of the Extraordinary Meeting on 17 October.
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