Longer-term IMO goals rely upon viable zero-carbon fuels
Letter from London: Shipping GHG targets not all plain sailing
The IMO’s ambitious emission goals are still reliant on as-yet unproven technology
The International Maritime Organization (IMO) agreed new mandatory emission reduction policies for ships—including the establishment of vessel rating systems—at its recent Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) meeting. The IMO says the new measures are “short-term” steps in their eventual decarbonisation plans, which target a 50pc cut in shipping’s GHG emissions by 2050 relative to 2008 levels. And along the way, the IMO has committed to reducing carbon intensity—which compares GHG emissions against cargo carried over distance travelled—by 40pc by 2030 and 70pc by 2050. $100/t – Proposed CO₂ fuel oil levy The latest committee meeting also discussed proposals for a mandatory
Also in this section
5 December 2025
Mistaken assumptions around an oil bull run that never happened are a warning over the talk of a supply glut
4 December 2025
Time is running out for Lukoil and Rosneft to divest international assets that will be mostly rendered useless to them when the US sanctions deadline arrives in mid-December
3 December 2025
Aramco’s pursuit of $30b in US gas partnerships marks a strategic pivot. The US gains capital and certainty; Saudi Arabia gains access, flexibility and a new export future
2 December 2025
The interplay between OPEC+, China and the US will define oil markets throughout 2026
