Green shipping decarbonisation, Ships transport approximately 90% of world trade and emit almost 3% of global CO2, with the majority using heavy fuel oil.
What Are the Guidelines?
The 2023 strategy of the International Maritime Organization aims at achieving net-zero emissions by or in the vicinity of 2050, with 5-10% of the shipping energy being sourced from zero- or near-zero fuels by the year 2030. Introduction of the Net-Zero framework, the first globally applicable carbon price in any industry, was postponed in October 2025.
What Is the Current Situation?
According to Carbon Brief, negotiations are currently underway in an attempt to agree on the introduction of the framework at a meeting scheduled for December 2026. In the first ten months of 2025, liquefied natural gas represented 29% of all ships ordered, methanol – 9% and ammonia and other fuels – about 1%.
Is It Feasible? – green shipping decarbonisation
Even if all planned projects based on green ammonia, methanol and renewable fuel are implemented, this may enable achieving less than 20% of the international shipping industry requirements in 2030. To make vessels green the availability of cheap green hydrogen along with transparent regulations is essential.
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