As the IMO continues to stall the UK must take action on maritime emissions

Negotiations at the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) last week have drawn a blank for the third meeting in a row, as US and Saudi-led efforts to derail progress were successful.

The continued failure to find an ambitious agreement on cutting international emissions not only puts shipping off course to decarbonise, but locks fossil fuel importing states and the shipping industry into continued dependency. During the Hormuz crisis, dependence on oil cost the industry roughly £295 million a day, according to T&E estimates.

The next major IMO meeting takes place from November 30th to December 3rd. The UK should push to adopt an ambitious global deal, however, governments will face significant opposition. Putting the adoption of a global deal capable of decarbonising shipping by 2050 at risk.

Given the challenges, the UK, itself a champion of an ambitious deal at the IMO, should already be putting contingency plans in place in case a credible deal cannot be reached. The UK must not let the ongoing delays at the IMO put the brakes on shipping’s need to decarbonise. Taking action at the national level on international shipping is becoming increasingly urgent in light of the IMO’s failure to move forward for almost a year.

The UK Government needs to release its consultation paper on fuel regulation for the maritime sector, for domestic and international voyages, as indicated in the Maritime Decarbonisation Strategy by November 2026. The sector needs certainty on the direction of Government policy, and outlining the planned approach through consultation is the first step in introducing fuel regulation.

Ariana Makinson, Sustainable Shipping Senior Officer at T&E UK, said: “This summer’s heatwaves, wildfires and droughts have made one thing clear: the UK cannot afford to delay on emissions. While negotiations at the IMO drag on, the Government must stop using international uncertainty as an excuse for inaction on shipping. Publish the consultation on maritime fuel regulation by November, and set a clear timetable to bring it into force.”