- The International Maritime Organization (IMO) will hold an extraordinary session in October 2025 to decide on the adoption of the Net-Zero Framework (NZF), its binding emissions reduction plan.
- The NZF introduces a global fuel standard, credit trading scheme, and support for zero- and near-zero emission fuels, with measures expected to take effect from January 2028 if adopted.
- Failure to adopt the framework could create uncertainty for the maritime industry, delaying investments in vessels and clean fuels critical for long-term decarbonisation.
The International Maritime Organization (IMO), a UN specialised agency with 176 member states, serves as the global regulator for shipping. Its Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) is tasked with addressing ship-related environmental issues, including pollution control under the MARPOL treaty. The MEPC has played a central role in advancing the IMO’s climate strategy, including the adoption of a revised greenhouse gas (GHG) strategy at MEPC 80 in 2023, which called for net-zero emissions “by or around 2050.” At MEPC 83 in April 2025, member states approved the Net-Zero Framework, a package of global and binding regulations to implement this strategy.
What the Net-Zero Framework Includes
The NZF combines technical and economic measures to guide shipping toward net-zero emissions by 2050. Its main features include a global fuel standard that sets year-by-year GHG intensity reduction targets through 2035, backed by penalties for non-compliance. It also introduces a credit trading mechanism, allowing low-emission vessels to generate credits that can be sold to higher-emitting ships. Funds raised through penalties will support rewards for zero- and near-zero emission fuels, as well as initiatives for training seafarers, building capacity, and supporting developing states in achieving a fair transition. Once adopted, the NZF will be incorporated into a new Chapter 5 of Annex VI of MARPOL, which already covers 97% of global shipping tonnage.
Industry Reaction
The framework has been welcomed by industry groups such as the Global Maritime Forum and the Getting to Zero Coalition, which praised its ambition but cautioned that the measures may fall short of meeting 2030 and 2040 emissions checkpoints. Critics argue that the current design may not sufficiently accelerate the scale-up of e-fuels like e-ammonia and e-methanol, which are essential for achieving long-term decarbonisation goals. Without early investment in these fuels, the IMO’s target of at least 5% zero- or near-zero emission fuel use by 2030 could be at risk.
The October Vote and Adoption Process
The extraordinary MEPC session scheduled for 14–17 October 2025 in London will determine whether the NZF is formally adopted. While 63 countries supported the framework at MEPC 83, 16 opposed it, and 24 abstained. Adoption could be reached either through consensus or a two-thirds majority vote among Annex VI parties present. Once adopted, the framework enters a tacit acceptance period of at least ten months, during which objections can be raised. If no successful objections emerge, the NZF will enter into force in spring 2027, with mandatory compliance for large ocean-going vessels (over 5,000 GT) beginning on 1 January 2028.
Consequences of Non-Adoption
If the NZF fails to gain adoption, the shipping industry will face greater regulatory uncertainty, making it more difficult to plan long-term investments in vessels and clean fuels. This delay would raise costs for companies, countries, and consumers while jeopardising progress toward net-zero goals. Although the IMO’s 2023 GHG strategy would remain in effect, the absence of a binding framework could undermine confidence in the industry’s decarbonisation pathway, risking missed opportunities for large-scale investments critical to global trade and economic growth.
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Source: Global Maritime Forum
