The IMO’s 84th Marine Environment Protection Committee meeting started at the Albert Embankment, in London, earlier this week.
IMO Secretary General Arsenio Dominguez urged Member States to find convergence and make meaningful progress on the IMO Net-Zero Framework to cut global shipping emissions, and set an example of effective multilateralism, however, specialist shipping fuel media are reporting that the IMO Net Zero Framework is being contested.
Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez commended the national governments for their work, adding that they had used their time since last year’s session “wisely and productively” and that the submissions to the 84th Meeting “demonstrate a genuine commitment to address the concerns expressed at the extraordinary session and to move this work forward”.
He added that the Committee is in a better position to understand each other’s views and he welcomed the “good progress” on guidelines supporting the technical element of framework, notably the greenhouse gas fuel intensity regulating component. He Also added that he was encouraged by continued efforts to develop a shared understanding of what a “just and equitable transition” means in the IMO context with regards to the economic element of the decarbonisation strategy.
The Secretary General appealed for international co-operation. “Let us move forward where we agree and continue to elaborate where further work and understanding is required. At a time where there is already enough disagreement around the world, I ask you that we can set an example of effective multilateralism,” he told delegates.
Disagreement already
However, in the run-up to the meeting, specialist media were already reporting opposition to the IMO net zero framework with dissenters favouring a revised plan. The publication Ship & Bunker reported that three countries Argentina, Panama, and Liberia, were calling for revisions to the Global Fuel Intensity Framework so that fuels would only be included if their cost is no more than 15% of the market average for conventional marine fuels. Such a revision would be favourable to Liquefied Natural Gas in the transition. Under the revised plan, a 30 year trajectory would see a gradual reduction of emissions intensity. The alternative plan also reportedly rejects the creation of an IMO Fund.
Later during the week, Ship & Bunker reported that support for the IMO Net Zero Framework as it was previously put forward was fading, although it retains support from the European Union, Norway, and the Pacific Island States. Liberia, Argentina, Panama, Saudi Arabia, the Gulf Co-operation Council States and the United States are reportedly favouring the revised GFI plan.
Japan has put forward an alternative, said to be a compromise proposal, that would keep the Net Zero Framework’s existing global fuel intensity trajectory but would remove mandatory payments to the IMO Net Zero Fund.
The Maritime Environment Protection Committee is due to conclude on Friday 01 May 2026.
Further details:
Argentina, Panama and Liberia Propose Pragmatic IMO NZF backing LNG – Ship & Bunker, 30 March 2026
