The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has voted to delay its Net-Zero Framework (NZF) by one year — a decision that has fractured global consensus on shipping’s decarbonisation path and reignited long-standing geopolitical divides.
In a contentious vote, 57 member states supported the delay, 49 opposed it, and 21 abstained. The result reflects deep divisions between regions, prompting fears that national and regional climate policies could now splinter the global regulatory framework — complicating compliance and creating uncertainty for shipowners and financiers alike.
Analysts at Jefferies noted the decision could trigger a return to conventional fuel engines, as some shipowners reclassify dual-fuel “capable” newbuilds to “dual-fuel ready” to save costs. “If there is one benefit to the IMO’s stalled initiatives,” Jefferies added, “it is that shipping costs may be coming down.”
Dr. Martin Kröger of the German Shipowners’ Association described the impasse as “politics overpowering pragmatism,” citing U.S. and Saudi interests as barriers to global alignment, while Patrick Verhoeven of the International Association of Ports and Harbours warned of “a complex regulatory patchwork” emerging from uncoordinated national measures.
Industry groups, including the World Shipping Council and European Shipowners, urged the IMO to use the additional year to close gaps and forge a unified, enforceable agreement. NGOs, however, voiced frustration — calling the delay a capitulation to “vested interests” and a threat to meaningful climate progress.
The Sustainable Shipping Initiative echoed concerns about the IMO’s vulnerability to political pressure and its eroding consensus. Markets, it warned, may lose confidence in the sector’s long-term climate direction.
Closing the session, IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez expressed visible disappointment: “My plea to you is that the way we have negotiated this week does not happen again. It does not help yourselves, and it does not help the organisation.”
The delay underscores a broader truth — global decarbonisation in shipping is as much a political contest as it is a technical challenge.