The European Transport Workers’ Federation (ETF) has responded to the IMO’s net-zero commitment by urging the EU to align its maritime policies with the global framework, protect port competitiveness, and ensure a just, worker-centered transition in the shipping industry.
During MEPC 83, IMO adopted a global carbon pricing mechanism for shipping, to take effect in 2028, with a $100-per-tonne levy on COâ‚‚ emissions above targets. Aimed at achieving net-zero by 2050, the agreement also highlights the critical role of seafarers.
Meanwhile, the EU has already implemented a more advanced system: maritime transport has been included in the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS) since January 2024, with full coverage expected by 2026. In parallel, the FuelEU Maritime Regulation, effective from 2025, targets an 80% reduction in greenhouse gas intensity from marine fuels by 2050.
Together with the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF), ETF welcomes this first-ever legally binding global framework to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from shipping. At the same time, ETF urges the EU to carefully assess how the IMO framework interacts with the Maritime ETS and FuelEU Maritime Regulation, to prevent duplicative or conflicting systems and to ensure a level playing field.
The IMO’s decision to pursue net-zero emissions from global shipping by 2050 marks a significant and welcome step in the decarbonisation of the sector, one that ETF and the port workforce have long been preparing for.
This development holds particular weight for EU ports. ETF has consistently voiced concerns about the risks posed by the EU ETS in its current form, notably the potential for business and carbon leakage, where transshipment and shipping activities could shift to non-EU ports. A globally coordinated measure such as the one adopted by the IMO has the potential to rebalance competition and reduce these risks, creating a fairer environment for EU ports to remain both climate-responsible and economically viable.
ETF emphasises the need for the EU to ensure that the Maritime ETS and FuelEU Maritime Regulation interact coherently with the IMO framework. Avoiding overlapping or conflicting systems is crucial to prevent unnecessary strain on ports, operators, and workers. The current transition offers a clear opportunity, but it requires close coordination between regional and global policies, along with a commitment to inclusive dialogue with social partners and stakeholders.
The establishment of the IMO Net-Zero Fund and the introduction of a global emissions pricing mechanism from 2028 mark a fundamental shift in how the maritime sector addresses climate change. As the industry moves toward alternative fuels and advanced technologies, the working lives of seafarers will be significantly affected.
To ensure that this transformation delivers decent work opportunities, it must be managed in a just, equitable, and holistic manner, ETF notes. Adequate resources must be allocated for training, technology transfer, and capacity building, with a firm guarantee that all maritime professionals have access to paid reskilling and equal opportunities to acquire new skills. With investment in the green and digital transition expected to grow rapidly, it is crucial that industry decision-makers engage meaningfully with workers. Seafarers must not only be included, they must be placed at the centre of shaping this transition.
ETF stands ready to work in close cooperation with social partners, governments, and industry stakeholders to ensure that the transition to a greener maritime sector is not only ambitious but also fair and inclusive. All workers, whether at sea or in ports, must be fully equipped to lead this change. Their rights must be protected, their skills recognised, and their voices heard in shaping the future of a decarbonised global shipping industry. By placing workers at the centre of this transformation, a sustainable maritime sector that delivers for both people and the planet can be built.
