IMO Delays Net-Zero Shipping Vote After Trump Pushback
An international vote to adopt new global shipping emissions rules has been delayed by a year, following U.S. pressure to halt what President Trump called a “global green new scam tax”. The decision marks a significant setback for efforts to decarbonize one of the world’s most energy-intensive industries.
The International Maritime Organization (IMO) had convened an extraordinary session of its Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) this week to finalise the Net-Zero Framework — a plan to introduce a global carbon levy on large vessels and establish a transition fund for cleaner shipping fuels. But after days of tense negotiations, delegates voted 57 to 49 to postpone the decision until October 2026, with 21 abstentions.
The move followed direct threats from Washington, where President Trump warned of sanctions against countries backing the plan. The U.S., joined by several oil-producing nations, argued that the framework amounted to an unfair tax on trade. Supporters countered that it would create a level playing field for low-carbon innovation and provide vital funding for developing economies.
Shipping already contributes roughly 3% of global CO₂ emissions, and from 2016 to 2023 emissions rose by about 12%, despite improvements in fuel efficiency. If left unchecked, the sector could make up a significantly larger share of global emissions in the coming decades — making international coordination critical to reaching net-zero goals.
The proposed framework aimed to reduce the greenhouse-gas intensity of maritime transport by linking fuel standards to emissions performance. Revenue from the levy would have funded retrofits, clean-fuel research, and climate adaptation projects in developing nations.
The shipping industry itself has largely backed a global approach, fearing that without one, a patchwork of regional carbon rules — such as the EU’s maritime emissions trading scheme — could increase costs and regulatory uncertainty. However, divisions deepened this week between oil-exporting and importing states, with developing countries warning that trade could be hit by rising freight costs.
By postponing the deal, the IMO will now continue informal negotiations throughout 2025 in hopes of reaching consensus before reconvening next year. But with political pressure from Washington and growing geopolitical rifts, many observers fear the timeline for cleaning up one of the world’s hardest-to-decarbonise sectors is slipping further out of reach.