The Getting to Zero Coalition has called on IMO Member States to adopt the Net-Zero Framework (NZF) at next month’s meeting, warning that failure to do so could have far-reaching consequences for the shipping industry and global trade.
The Coalition, representing more than 180 companies across the maritime value chain, said the NZF is essential to providing clarity and certainty for investors backing the transition to cleaner fuels and new vessel technologies.
“Prolonged uncertainty could put very large investments—ones that will be critical for the future of global trade—at risk,” the Coalition said in a statement. “Failure to adopt the framework risks undermining momentum and delaying progress toward zero-emission shipping.”
Shipping accounts for nearly 3% of global greenhouse gas emissions, and the IMO has committed to reaching net zero “by or around 2050” under its Revised Greenhouse Gas Strategy, agreed in 2023. In April this year, the IMO made progress by agreeing on regulations to support the transition, but the NZF vote in October is seen as a defining moment for the organisation’s credibility.
The Coalition argued that adopting the framework would not only accelerate decarbonisation, but also unlock economic opportunities. Investments in clean energy, alternative fuels and port infrastructure could create millions of jobs, it said, while positioning member states to benefit from growth in fast-emerging industries.
“Each year of delay will compound costs and erode confidence,” the Coalition warned. “Shipping depends on a global level playing field, and only the IMO can deliver the binding regulation needed to make the transition fair, efficient, and effective.”
The IMO’s decision in October will therefore be closely watched as a test of both industry ambition and the strength of multilateral regulation.
