IMO 'no' camp piles on pressure to withdraw regional EU regulations

A US-led group is urging the EU to roll back its regional emission rules as IMO member states head to vote on the Net-Zero Framework.

IMAGE: Representatives from member states at the IMO’s Intersessional Working Group on the Reduction of GHG Emissions from Ships meeting in London. X of @IMOHQ

According to Transport & Environment (T&E), the US, UAE, Saudi Arabia and other oil-producing countries have been pressuring the EU to withdraw its carbon pricing for shipping under the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) and green fuels mandate under the FuelEU Maritime regulation.

Malta’s shipping body, the Malta Maritime Forum, has urged its government to push for the withdrawal or phase-out of the EU ETS and FuelEU Maritime if the IMO framework is adopted.

Technically, the FuelEU regulation allows for a global regime to supersede it.

“Recital 69 and Article 30 of the FuelEU regulation state that a global approach by the IMO to limit GHG ship intensity would be preferable and more effective due to its broader scope,” Lloyd’s Register explained.

Last week, the European Commission reiterated that it would review regional shipping regulations if the IMO’s framework is adopted.

“By trying to block regional action, this US-led coalition is not seeking a global solution; it is attempting to shut down climate action altogether. This is not negotiation - it’s climate blackmail,” Jenny Helle, shipping decarbonisation expert at Carbon Market Watch told ENGINE.

T&E described the US-led effort as a “shameless attempt” to undermine regional control and urged the EU to "not cave into efforts to torch vital climate measures" that have been approved through Europe’s elected Parliament.”

By Konica Bhatt and Tuhin Roy

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