Rethinking Maritime Climate Strategy
Last month, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) made headlines after adopting what some called “historic” climate regulations. Yet, for many in the clean shipping sector, this announcement was less a breakthrough and more a missed opportunity. A coalition of 82 stakeholders — ranging from maritime technology groups to green hydrogen alliances — has responded with a unified call for stronger action from the European Union (EU).
Their message is clear: real transformation will not be driven by weak incentives or vague ambitions, but by bold, enforceable policies that reward innovation and penalise pollution.
The Gap Between Strategy and Impact
At the heart of the discontent is a stark assessment: the IMO’s new measures fail to address the bulk of shipping emissions. According to the coalition, nearly 90% of emissions remain unpriced, allowing conventional fuel users to operate without meaningful financial consequences. Without such price signals, there’s little economic incentive for operators to shift away from fossil fuels.
The result is a policy framework that, while symbolically progressive, risks entrenching the status quo — potentially missing the 2030 decarbonisation targets by a wide margin.
Green Fuels Left in the Shadows
One of the most troubling takeaways is the IMO’s limited support for green hydrogen and synthetic e-fuels like e-ammonia and e-methanol. These fuels are among the lowest-emission options across their lifecycles and are widely viewed as essential to net-zero shipping.
But they face uphill battles: high production costs, uncertain demand, and inadequate infrastructure. Although the IMO’s framework provides minor incentives for early adopters, these may inadvertently favour transitional or polluting fuels like liquefied natural gas (LNG) or biofuels — fuels that could lock the sector into long-term emissions.
A Different Kind of Competitiveness
Rather than wait for global momentum, the coalition is urging the EU to take proactive leadership. The proposed roadmap includes:
- 2025: Launching financial support for e-fuel production via the Sustainable Transport Investment Plan (STIP).
- 2026: Expanding the EU ETS to cover broader maritime emissions, using the revenues to scale up clean fuels.
- 2027: Strengthening FuelEU Maritime with binding targets for e-fuel uptake.
- Ongoing: Pushing for tougher IMO rules aligned with the EU’s Clean Industrial Deal.
This strategy is not merely about compliance — it positions the EU as a clean shipping leader in the emerging green industrial economy.
Voices from the Coalition
Aurelia Leeuw of the SASHA Coalition emphasized that the IMO’s limited scope is not a closed door, but a prompt for the EU to act decisively. She called on policymakers to nurture the clean shipping sector rather than neglect it.
Lukas Leppert of NABU echoed these concerns, framing the recent IMO outcome as a missed chance to lead a global shift. For him, EU climate leadership remains a crucial course correction.
Madadh MacLaine of ZESTAs warned of the risk in locking capital into outdated infrastructure. Her appeal focused on science-based fuel lifecycle analysis and smarter regulation — tools that can separate truly sustainable solutions from short-term fixes.
Conclusion: Incentives That Inspire, Not Delay
This moment in maritime policy offers an unexpected insight: when incentives are misaligned, even progressive policies can reinforce old systems. Without bold action, the emerging clean fuel economy risks becoming a niche, not a norm.
The EU has the tools to flip this script — not just by filling regulatory gaps, but by championing innovation as a form of competitiveness. The question is no longer whether we can reduce emissions, but whether we will choose to do so in time.