An international plan to curb greenhouse gas emissions from the global shipping industry has been postponed by a year following staunch opposition from the United States. The decision came after a contentious week of negotiations at the International Maritime Organization (IMO), the United Nations’ shipping body, where a vote to formally adopt the climate measure was ultimately delayed. The U.S. government threatened diplomatic and economic retaliation against nations supporting the proposal, unraveling a fragile coalition and stalling what would have been the first global carbon-pricing system for maritime transport.
The proposed Net-Zero Framework (NZF) would have established a legally binding system to make the shipping industry accountable for its significant carbon footprint. Shipping is responsible for nearly 3% of global greenhouse gas emissions, an amount equivalent to the annual emissions of a major industrial nation. The framework included a global fuel standard and a carbon pricing mechanism, which would require ships to progressively reduce their carbon emissions starting in 2028 or face financial penalties. Proponents argued the plan was a critical step toward decarbonizing a sector that relies heavily on polluting fossil fuels, while rewarding low-emission vessels and supporting countries vulnerable to climate change.
US leads opposition with threats
The primary obstacle to the plan’s adoption was the United States, which has been against the framework since it was first proposed in April. The White House intensified its opposition, with President Donald Trump labeling the proposal a “Global Green New Scam Tax on Shipping” on social media and stating the U.S. would not tolerate it. The administration warned it was considering retaliatory measures, including sanctions, visa restrictions, port bans, and other commercial penalties against countries that voted in favor of the measure. U.S. officials argued the plan would unfairly burden its small shipbuilding sector and impose a “carbon tax” on American consumers and companies. In a joint statement, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and other cabinet members said the administration “unequivocally rejects this proposal.”
Details of the climate framework
The Net-Zero Framework was designed as the IMO’s most ambitious effort to date to address the shipping industry’s environmental impact. The core of the plan involved charging ships for emissions that exceeded a set threshold. The revenue generated would have been used to fund two key areas: rewarding operators of low-emission vessels and providing financial support to countries most vulnerable to the effects of climate change. The measure would have mandated that all large vessels, including commercial cargo ships and cruise liners, cut emissions by 17% by 2028. Many of these ships currently operate on heavy fuel oil, a pollutant that emits black carbon, methane, and sulphur oxides, harming coastal communities and sensitive ecosystems. The framework aimed to create clear, legally binding targets to guide the industry toward cleaner energy sources and more efficient operations.
A divided international community
The aggressive U.S. stance created deep divisions among the IMO’s member states. Despite the pressure, a significant bloc of nations reaffirmed their support for the plan ahead of the scheduled vote, including China, the European Union, Brazil, and the United Kingdom. However, the U.S. position was supported by several major oil-producing countries, such as Saudi Arabia, Russia, and the United Arab Emirates. These nations had previously voted against the measure in April, arguing it would harm the global economy and jeopardize food security. Some countries appeared to shift their positions under U.S. pressure. Argentina, which had abstained during the initial vote in April, came out in opposition to the deal. The pressure campaign effectively fractured the consensus needed to move forward.
Vote delayed after procedural chaos
Talks grew increasingly tense, with one Russian delegate describing the proceedings as “chaos.” Instead of voting on the framework itself, delegates on Friday considered a hastily arranged resolution to postpone the vote by one year. This procedural move passed by a narrow margin of 57 to 49, officially delaying the decision until the next meeting in 2026. The delay was seen as a victory for the U.S. and its allies. The United States had also advocated for changing the voting process to give more weight to abstentions, a proposal that could have further complicated the adoption of the plan had the vote proceeded. The postponement means the earliest the framework could be implemented is now March 2028.
Implications for shipping and climate goals
The outcome was met with disappointment from environmental advocates and shipping industry representatives. A spokesman for U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called the delay a “missed opportunity” to put the shipping sector on a credible path toward net-zero emissions. The International Chamber of Shipping, which represents over 80% of the world’s commercial fleet, also expressed frustration, emphasizing that the industry needs regulatory clarity to make the substantial investments required for decarbonization. Environmental groups slammed the inaction, highlighting that the delay stalls progress on regulating one of the world’s largest and fastest-growing sources of emissions. With the vote pushed back, uncertainty hangs over the future of global maritime climate policy.