INTERTANKO’s Council support for decarbonisation pathways and a single global framework
19 June 2025
In the wake of the IMO’s Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC 83) meeting and the draft agreement for a global net zero regulatory framework, INTERTANKO’s Council has reinforced its support for a single international regulatory framework for reducing international shipping’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions while urging IMO Member States to provide certainty for the practical and sustainable transitional pathways.
At its meeting in Oslo on 28 May, INTERTANKO’s Council reviewed the recent developments relating to the IMO’s Net Zero Framework (NZF) within the wider context of the Association’s 2024 Decarbonisation Strategy. Having considered the outcome from the 83rd meeting of the IMO’s MEPC 83 and the outlook for an agreement to be adopted at an Extraordinary Session (MEPC ES) in October, the Council voiced its support for a single global framework for regulating GHG emissions from international shipping. It is vital now that any national and regional legislation is aligned with this international framework in terms of implementation and enforcement but also in terms of upholding the polluter pays principle.
Providing context to its discussion, the Council was provided with a gap analysis between the IMO’s NZF and EU’s regional approach through the FuelEU Maritime Regulation and the EU’s Emissions Trading Scheme (EU ETS). This followed a case study and assessment of the pathways that are now available for the industry to consider in terms of mid- to long-term compliance with the global fuel standard trajectories. The case study examined, as an example, the use of sustainable biofuels as a pathway to compliance that could extend beyond the short- to mid-term transitional period and provide a longer-term industry solution to meeting the IMO’s decarbonisation ambitions.
During consideration of these developments and the biofuel case study, support was given to an agnostic yet proactive approach for ensuring that all practical and sustainable pathways remained open to Owners. Recognising that the industry had already reduced its net CO2 emissions by 29% in 2023 (compared to 2008) there was optimism that the 2030 ambition of 30% net reduction and even beyond, the 2040 target will be exceeded with the rapid development in energy saving devices (including wind assisted propulsion), the evolving sustainable biofuel market, the use of LNG and longer term e-LNG, equipment for carbon capture and storage and the introduction into an ageing fleet of more energy efficient new buildings.
However, while Owners develop their practical and technical-based strategies to meet the IMO’s GHG ambitions, INTERTANKO’s approach will be to urge governments to establish urgently regulatory and political certainty. This approach should ensure that the regulatory pathways remain open within the final version of the NZF and its associated guidelines. To accomplish this mandate, INTERTANKO Member companies are strongly encouraged to share their experience, expertise and data relating to the various compliance pathways with the Secretariat. This will in turn be fed into discussion and subsequent action by the relevant INTERTANKO Committees.
Click here to view the Council presentation slides.
Contact: Technical@intertanko.com
