22/10/2025
Last Friday, the 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝗢𝗿𝗴𝗮𝗻𝗶𝘀𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 (𝗜𝗠𝗢) concluded by a majority of Member States’ decision to postpone the formal adoption of the Net Zero Framework, a measure including a Global Fuel Standard and a pricing mechanism.
The decision? 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗜𝗠𝗢 𝗵𝗮𝘀 𝗰𝗵𝗼𝘀𝗲𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝗱𝗲𝗹𝗮𝘆 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗰𝘂𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘃𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘀𝗲 𝗺𝗲𝗮𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗲𝘀 𝗯𝘆 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿.
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗱𝗼𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗺𝗲𝗮𝗻 𝗶𝗻 𝗽𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲?
The formal decision-making process will resume next year. The roadmap toward a global framework continues, but it has become much more difficult and uncertain. The Net Zero Framework’s timelines, such as the date of entry into force, will have to be pushed back.
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘁 𝗱𝗼𝗲𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗺𝗲𝗮𝗻
This is not a withdrawal from the IMO’s net-zero targets. As such, the 2023 IMO GHG Strategy still stands. The Net Zero Framework has not been rejected but postponed. IMO will now work to address concerns and create unity among Member States. The commitment to decarbonization at a global level remains firm among many stakeholders, including ship owners and Member States.
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗺?
Existing regulations, such as FuelEU Maritime, EU ETS and other regional schemes, continue to drive the energy transition. These frameworks already incentivize cleaner alternatives and will continue to shape the market ahead.
Dionysis Diamantopoulos, our Head of Alternative Fuels commented: "𝗪𝗲 𝗰𝗲𝗿𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗹𝘆 𝗱𝗶𝗱 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗜𝗠𝗢 𝘀𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗴𝘂𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗡𝗲𝘁 𝗭𝗲𝗿𝗼 𝘁𝗮𝗿𝗴𝗲𝘁𝘀, 𝗶𝗻 𝗺𝘆 𝗼𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝗶𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗺𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲. Whilst the momentum toward reducing GHG emissions is already woven into global targets as well as in regional frameworks like FuelEU and EU ETS, 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗱𝗲𝗹𝗮𝘆 𝗱𝗼𝗲𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝗰𝗹𝗮𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗯𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝘀 𝗮 𝘀𝗲𝘁𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝗱𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝗮 𝗻𝗲𝘁-𝘇𝗲𝗿𝗼 𝘀𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿. Having said that, we can utilise this extra time that is given to refine our approaches and accelerate innovation both from the side of the bunker industry but also from the side of shipowners, as we do retain the belief that the future of shipping remains green, and those who act now will shape it."
We view this as a moment to stay proactive, not passive. The industry’s transition toward low-carbon fuels continues, and so does our commitment to supporting it.
At Baseblue, we remain firm in our belief that alternative fuels are a practical, scalable, and immediate solution to reducing maritime emissions today. Contact us to learn about the new regulations affecting the maritime industry.
