On 11 April 2025, a new agreement was reached at the International Maritime Organization (IMO) with the aim of reducing greenhouse gas emissions from the global shipping sector to net zero by 2050.

On 11 April 2025, a new agreement was reached at the International Maritime Organization (IMO) with the aim of reducing greenhouse gas emissions from the global shipping sector to net zero by 2050. In a statement, the European Commission described the agreement as a historic deal in the fight against climate change.

The agreement is based on the 2023 IMO Strategy and sets out targets to reduce emissions by at least 20% (striving for 30%) by 2030 and at least 70% (striving for 80%) by 2040. The ultimate goal is to reach net-zero emissions by or around 2050.

Under the new agreement, global standards will be introduced to gradually reduce the greenhouse gas intensity of marine fuels used on ships. In this context, the climate impact of fuels will be assessed across all stages from production to consumption, and a common certification system promoting the use of cleaner fuels will be implemented. This aims to ensure environmental integrity and fair competition within the sector. The new measure also introduces the first global pricing mechanism for emissions which, along with financial incentives, will encourage shipping companies to adopt the cleanest fuels and technologies at an early stage. The pricing mechanism will apply to a share of international shipping emissions from 2028. The European Commission, together with EU Member States, played a key role in the negotiations and will also assess the new global measure to see how it interacts with current EU maritime legislation, maintaining environmental integrity while avoiding double burden.

This initiative represents a significant step toward decarbonising the maritime sector in line with the European Green Deal and the EU’s 2050 net-zero emissions target.