Ocean Protection Means Including Shipping in Countries’ Paris Climate Targets - CleanTechnica

At the 2025 UN Ocean Conference in Nice, environmental groups Opportunity Green, Seas At Risk, and Transport & Environment urged countries to include international shipping emissions in their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement ahead of COP30. They highlighted that shipping emissions represent a significant “glaring gap” in most countries’ climate plans despite falling under the Paris Agreement’s economy-wide emission coverage. The recent draft International Maritime Organization (IMO) Net-Zero Framework, pending adoption, marks a historic step by introducing the first legally binding global measure to reduce shipping greenhouse gas emissions through penalties and marine fuel standards. However, the groups emphasize that this IMO framework alone is insufficient to meet climate and equity goals without complementary national and regional policies. Incorporating shipping emissions into NDCs would provide countries with a legislative mandate to regulate and reduce the sector’s climate impact, offering certainty for industry investment in zero-emission technologies. The groups call on nations to implement policies supporting the IMO framework, promote innovation in zero-emission fuels, and assist developing countries, especially Small Island Developing States and Least Developed Countries, in meeting maritime environmental standards. Representatives stressed the urgent need for accountability and action, noting that shipping contributes significantly to ocean pollution and climate change but remains largely unregulated in national climate commitments. They argue that recognizing shipping emissions in NDCs aligns with broader ocean conservation goals and is a critical step toward meaningful climate action.