According to a recent Reuters report, the United States has officially rejected the “net-zero framework” proposal put forward by the International Maritime Organization (IMO), which aims to curb greenhouse gas emissions from the international shipping industry. This decision by the U.S. was accompanied by warnings about potential impacts on countries supporting the initiative.
Just ahead of a scheduled October vote by the United Nations agency, key U.S. officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, announced the decision in a joint statement.
The Trump administration firmly opposes the proposal and will not accept any measures that could increase costs for U.S. citizens or businesses, the officials stated in the declaration.
An internal memo obtained by Reuters revealed that the U.S. had distanced itself from discussions on the framework as early as April and urged other member states to reconsider their support for the proposal.
Despite major shipping companies like Maersk committing to achieving net-zero emissions operations by 2050, representatives from the World Shipping Council declined to comment on this latest development.
This rejection aligns with President Trump’s earlier decision to withdraw from the Paris Agreement, which set targets for significantly reducing global emissions by mid-century.
Currently, negotiations on plastic pollution are underway within the U.N. forum. However, similar warnings have been issued regarding proposed restrictions on certain chemicals associated with plastic use.
The shipping industry plays a vital role in global trade—approximately 90% of the world’s goods are transported by sea—but it also accounts for nearly 3% of global CO2 emissions. Environmental advocates continue to call for more decisive action from the sector, including implementing carbon taxes as part of broader sustainability efforts.
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