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International shipping

Emissions from international shipping, which transports 90% of the goods traded across borders, make up about 2% of the world’s carbon footprint. Shipping emissions have rebounded following a temporary dip during the COVID-19 crisis, growing by 5% in 2022.

Despite the relative energy efficiency of shipping compared with aviation, the bulk of the shipping sector still runs on fossil fuels. With the projected growth in international shipping over the coming decades, the sector’s emissions could, worryingly, grow by a cumulative 250% by 2050, if left unchecked.

The UN’s International Maritime Organisation (IMO) is responsible for steering global action to navigate the international shipping sector towards a climate-friendly future. However, these efforts have been blown off course due to a lack of ambition and inadequate goals and targets. If the shipping sector is to achieve its climate goals, the IMO needs to blow more wind in its sails by scaling up ambition and imposing binding targets on the sector.

As a member of the Clean Shipping Coalition (CSC), Carbon Market Watch is an official observer at the IMO, follows its climate policy development process and recommends policies to improve the climate performance of the global shipping sector.

What is CMW doing about it?

When it comes to international shipping, Carbon Market Watch focuses on:

  • Observing negotiations and campaigning at the IMO
  • Investigating the impact of the global shipping sector’s climate policies
  • Researching and presenting recommendations to the IMO, governments and the shipping industry

The shipping sector must set course toward a climate-friendly future

The shipping sector must set course toward a climate-friendly future

What changes is CMW demanding?

Raising the IMO’s climate ambition to a level that is compatible with the goals of the Paris Agreement

Action at national and regional levels to bring down shipping emissions in different jurisdictions

Embarking on an equitable transition for the shipping sector that leaves no country behind

Binding emissions reduction targets for shipping companies that are in line with the Paris Agreement

Latest

Highlighted

International shipping’s new climate plan provokes storm of protest
Green groups criticised the International Maritime Organisation's failure to raise the shipping sector's climate ambition sufficiently to ensure that this highly polluting sector navigates a course that is compatible with keeping global temperature increases within the 1.5°C limit set out in the Paris Agreement.

The international shipping sector's climate ambitions are caught in dire straits

Contact our experts

Sam Van den plas
Policy Director

sam.vandenplas[at]carbonmarketwatch.org

Eleanor Scott
Expert on EU Carbon Markets

eleanor.scott[at]carbonmarketwatch.org

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