The International Maritime Organization’s Net-Zero Framework emerged largely intact from another round of negotiations this week, despite a push by the United States and several oil-producing countries to weaken or replace key parts of the agreement. Delegates wrapped up four days of technical talks in London on Friday, with the carbon pricing mechanism once again at the center of the debate. According to observers at the meeting, 38 countries that spoke explicitly backed keeping carbon pricing and the revenue mechanism at the heart of the framework, while 17 countries, largely oil-producing states, opposed it over concerns about costs.
The Net-Zero Framework was agreed in April 2025, but its formal adoption was later delayed after a 57-49 vote amid strong pressure from the U.S. and Saudi Arabia. It is intended to help shipping meet the IMO’s 2023 target of reaching net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by or around 2050. Lukas Leppert, President of the Clean Shipping Coalition, said the framework remains intact despite pressure from a minority of detractors seeking to undermine climate action by the shipping sector, and must be adopted without further delay. Jesse Fahnestock of the Global Maritime Forum noted that while countries showed continued willingness to find common ground on the 2023 goals, substantial issues remain to be negotiated before the framework can move toward formal adoption.
Source: gCaptain — https://gcaptain.com/imo-net-zero-framework-holds-ground-after-latest-round-of-climate-talks/
Tags: IMO, Net-Zero Framework, Carbon Pricing, Decarbonization
