With a joint statement, several international shipowners’ associations – the Asian Shipowners’ Association (ASA), the European Community Shipowners’ Associations (ECSA), the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) and the World Shipping Council (WSC) –, the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF), the International Association of Ports and Harbors (IAPH) and the International Bunker Industry Association (IBIA) have reiterated their strong support for the adoption by governments at the International Maritime Organization (IMO) of the Net-Zero Framework, the draft regulation for the decarbonization of maritime transport approved by the IMO’s Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) last April.
The initiative comes just days before the extraordinary session of the MEPC to be held from October 14 to 17 in London, from which the regulation’s approval is expected.
The IMO’s Net-Zero Framework is a United Nations system for determining the price of maritime transport emissions. It will apply starting in 2028 to maritime transport in IMO member countries, applying a carbon price of 100 dollars per tonne of CO2 equivalent.
The seven associations recalled that “the global industry remains fully committed to collaborating with IMO Member States to successfully implement this carefully balanced regulatory package to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by or around 2050, with the necessary incentives to reduce the risk of investment in new green marine fuels to accelerate the total decarbonization of international maritime transport and implement a just transition for the maritime workforce. Only global rules can decarbonize a global industry. Without the Framework, the maritime sector risks finding itself in a growing mosaic of unilateral regulations, increasing costs without effectively contributing to decarbonization.”
According to the organizations, this industry support represents “a unique and historic opportunity for governments to put in place a comprehensive global framework, which will be rigorously enforced worldwide, to incentivize the maritime sector’s transition to net-zero emissions, while ensuring a level playing field. The maritime transport sector, which handles 90% of global trade, is ready to play its important role in ensuring a sustainable future.”
