The European Sea Ports Organisation (ESPO) has voiced deep concern over the International Maritime Organisation’s (IMO) decision to delay the adoption of the Net-Zero Framework (NZF) by one year. The postponement, agreed at last week’s Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) meeting in London, is seen as a setback that could slow global climate ambition and hinder progress toward maritime decarbonisation.
Missed Opportunity for Global Climate Leadership
The NZF was expected to establish a unified global foundation for reducing greenhouse gas emissions from shipping through measures such as a fuel standard and a carbon pricing mechanism. ESPO described the delay as a missed opportunity to speed up the transition to clean fuels and warned that it could exacerbate regulatory fragmentation and unfair competition between regions.
“The postponement risks creating a standstill in global climate ambition and undermines the rare moment of convergence we have seen across the maritime sector,” ESPO stated, emphasizing that a coordinated global framework was essential for predictability and a level playing field across the supply chain.
ESPO’s Call for Continued Action in Europe
While expressing disappointment, ESPO welcomed the European Commission’s new strategy for a clean and resilient transition, which aims to boost political momentum, support green technologies, and strengthen global partnerships for sustainable value chains.
To sustain progress and encourage the use of clean fuels, ESPO urged the Commission to take tangible steps, including:
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Introducing tax exemptions for electricity used by ships at berth and for zero-carbon fuels such as green methanol, ammonia, and hydrogen.
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Providing subsidies and carbon contracts for difference (CCfDs) to narrow the cost gap between fossil and sustainable fuels.
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Allocating EU ETS revenues to build port infrastructure for clean fuel bunkering and onshore power supply (OPS).
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Creating incentives for fuel demand to encourage producers and suppliers to invest in capacity expansion.
Maintaining Momentum Despite Delay
ESPO stressed that the delay should not be mistaken for abandonment of the framework. The organisation acknowledged that the IMO’s technical work continues and urged governments, industry, and civil society to remain committed and engaged in shaping a workable and ambitious global solution.
Meanwhile, ESPO called on the European Commission to address the unintended side effects of regional regulations, such as business leakage and reduced competitiveness of European ports, until a global alignment is achieved.
Reaffirming its commitment to climate action, ESPO called on the European Commission, EU Member States, and maritime stakeholders to keep pressing for a strong global regulatory framework under the IMO. “Only through robust, coordinated global regulation can international shipping remain on a credible path toward net-zero emissions,” ESPO concluded.
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Source: ESPO
