In recent days, the United States has reportedly threatened trade sanctions, tariffs, and other coercive measures against countries that support the IMO deal. These tactics are aimed at undermining a multilateral process that has been years in the making and supported by an overwhelming majority of nations across all continents.
The global shipping industry accounts for nearly 3 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions, a share that is set to rise sharply if no collective action is taken. A unified and predictable framework is urgently needed to drive decarbonization, investment, and innovation.
Europe has long been a champion of that vision. The EU position, agreed in September, clearly committed all Member States to act jointly in the interest of the Union in support of the NZF. Any erosion of this unity under external pressure would not only jeopardize the IMO process but also weaken Europe’s credibility as a leader on climate and maritime policy.
The NZF is a pragmatic, balanced compromise that offers:
- Certainty for industry, by establishing a single global system rather than a patchwork of regional rules.
- Support for developing nations, through funding mechanisms that ensure a fair transition.
- A credible pathway to zero emissions by mid-century, consistent with the Paris Agreement and the IMO’s 2050 goal.
Attempts to derail the NZF through last-minute procedural changes or political threats must be rejected. The IMO must remain an independent and science-based body, guided by consensus and long-term stewardship of the global commons, not by short-term economic or political interests.
Now is the time for Europe to stand united, reaffirm its support for the Net Zero Framework, and demonstrate that multilateralism and climate ambition cannot be bullied into retreat.
The world is watching. Shipping’s clean future depends on leadership, not intimidation.
