The vote on a carbon tax for international shipping, known as the Net-Zero Framework (NZF), has been postponed for a year. This was decided on Friday in London by the member states of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), the maritime branch of the United Nations.
The postponement comes under pressure from US President Donald Trump. Before the vote, he had threatened countries that were in favor with visa restrictions, higher trade tariffs, or additional port fees, among other things.
$10 to 15 billion portfolio
In fact, an agreement had already been reached in April on the greening of shipping, which accounts for 3% of CO2 emissions. Last Friday’s vote in London was merely a formality to give it the green light, but that was without taking Trump’s political blackmail into account.
The agreement provides for a gradual decarbonization of shipping from 2028 onwards. Zero emissions must be achieved by 2050. Ships that do not meet the imposed standards will have to pay a tax of $100 or $380 per ton of CO2.
That money, estimated at 10 to 15 billion dollars, would then be invested to reward ships that have tried to reduce their emissions and to support climate-vulnerable countries.
Veto from oil-producing countries
Last week, the EU, Brazil, and China reiterated their support for approval, as did the Pacific island states, which had initially opposed it. The most critical maritime associations and organizations have also spoken out in favor of approving the NZF, in the interest of regulatory clarity.
However, due to pressure from Trump, the carbon tax, which they believe could increase the cost of global shipping by 10%, has been postponed for a year.
The US received support from Saudi Arabia, Russia, and oil-producing countries, while some countries, such as the Philippines, which supplies the world’s largest contingent of workers in the sector, and the Caribbean islands, which are economically very dependent on American cruises, felt strongly pressured by American pressure tactics
Emissions from the sector are rising
Shipping, which the Paris Climate Agreement does not cover like aviation, would become the first sector to impose binding reduction targets on itself under the agreement. The industry is responsible for more than 1 billion tons of greenhouse gas emissions annually. Still, the total CO2 emissions of all cargo ships at sea have risen from 889 million tons in 2019 to 974 million tons in 2024.
Practical greening is also slow in coming. Virtually all cargo ships run on fuel oil or diesel, and less than 1% use sustainable alternatives. Worldwide, there are precisely 71 wind-powered cargo ships in operation, out of a total fleet of nearly 70,000.
Whether the CO2 tax in shipping will be introduced next year is still uncertain, as Trump will continue to attack member states. Brazil, which is organizing the UN climate summit COP30 in Belem next month, has criticized the American approach and hopes that climate diplomacy – the IMO usually decides by consensus – will not have to continue to pay the price.
