The United States has formally requested that the International Maritime Organization (IMO) abandon the "Net-Zero Framework (NZF)" and terminate its review agenda. This move signals that global shipping decarbonization is shifting from "technical discussions" to "geopolitical competition."
Specifically, the Trump administration reiterated in a letter to the IMO that the U.S. holds a "strongly opposed" stance towards the "IMO Net-Zero Framework," describing it as having "serious flaws." The U.S. stated that it believes "the most appropriate approach is to completely end the consideration of the 'Net-Zero Framework'." Simultaneously, the U.S. explicitly stated its firm opposition to any form of "carbon dioxide tax," "climate tax," or "global fund" managed by the IMO, directly rejecting the global carbon pricing mechanism viewed as crucial for the green transition by many nations and industry groups.
The "IMO Net-Zero Framework" was approved in April 2025 at the 83rd session of the Marine Environment Protection Committee, becoming the new Chapter 5 added to the draft amendments of the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL) Annex VI. This framework includes a set of international regulations aimed at reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from ships, aligning with the IMO's 2023 GHG Reduction Strategy for Ships. It contains two key elements: a global fuel standard and a global GHG emissions pricing mechanism.
Comments