- Seven leading shipping associations have urged the IMO to adopt the Net-Zero Framework (NZF) to achieve climate-neutral shipping by 2050.
- The framework would establish binding global rules for emissions reduction and promote the use of alternative fuels.
- Industry leaders stress that a unified IMO-led approach is vital to avoid fragmented regional regulations and ensure fair competition.
- The associations also call on the EU to align its maritime climate policies with the IMO framework to streamline compliance.
Seven major shipping associations have jointly called on the International Maritime Organization (IMO) to formally adopt the Net-Zero Framework (NZF) during its upcoming session in London this October. The proposal, designed to establish binding global climate regulations for the maritime sector, aims to steer the industry toward climate neutrality by 2050. The call underscores the industry’s commitment to unified international action rather than fragmented regional measures, according to PortNews.
The associations — including Danish Shipping, the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS), and the European Community Shipowners’ Associations (ECSA) — emphasized that adopting the NZF is crucial for maintaining fair competition and consistent environmental standards across global shipping. The framework, aligned with the IMO’s 2023 greenhouse gas strategy, introduces measures such as emission reduction targets, penalties for non-compliance, and incentives for alternative fuel adoption. Industry leaders, including Anne H. Steffensen of Danish Shipping, noted that global regulation would provide a level playing field and encourage investments in sustainable technologies. They also urged the European Union to align its regulations with the IMO’s proposed system to prevent overlapping compliance costs. The associations warn that without a unified approach, the shipping sector risks operating under a fragmented patchwork of regional rules, undermining progress toward the shared 2050 climate neutrality goal.
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Source: Port News
