Shipping: a giant with feet of clay<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Shipping emits every year, nearly 1,000 million tonnes of CO\u2082, <\/strong>which is as much as global aviation. Its emissions, although receiving less media attention than those of air transport, are rising by an average of 2 per cent a year, driven by the growth in international trade. The sector remains heavily reliant on heavy fuel oil, one of the most polluting fuels, and 35 per cent of maritime transport is dedicated to\u2026 the transport of fossil fuels.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n Unlike other sectors, emissions from the shipping industry are not included in national accounts, but are regulated at international level through the IMO. Since 2018, the organisation has gradually raised its targets: a 20\u201330 per cent reduction in emissions by 2030, 70\u201380 per cent by 2040, and carbon neutrality \u00abaround 2050\u2019 \u00bb<\/strong>.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n In April 2025, the IMO adopted a \u00abnet-zero emissions framework\u00bb<\/strong>, including, for the first time, a global carbon pricing mechanism. The text, which was due to be formally adopted in October 2025, has now been postponed until 2026. This postponement reflects the difficulties in reaching a consensus amongst the 175 member states, particularly regarding the level of ambition and the implementation arrangements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The decarbonisation of maritime transport rests on three pillars: energy efficiency, alternative fuels and reducing demand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n a. Energy efficiency: quick but limited gains<\/strong> Optimising ship speed, improving hull design, installing wind-powered propulsion systems\u2026 These solutions, which are already well-established, enable immediate reductions in fuel consumption. However, they will not be enough to achieve carbon neutrality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n b. Alternative fuels: between promise and limitations<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n c. Reducing demand: an underestimated lever<\/strong> The global energy transition is expected to reduce the transport of fossil fuels, but the growth of e-commerce and international trade could offset this decline. Energy efficiency (slowing down ships, optimising routes) remains a key lever, but one that is difficult to enforce in a highly competitive sector.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The IMO framework, which is now due to be adopted in 2026, will come into force in 2027\u20132028. It is due to be reviewed every five years, with the possibility of raising the targets. The European Union, through the FuelEU Maritime Regulation and the inclusion of the sector in its Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS), is pushing for a faster transition, but international coordination remains complex. Maritime transport, which accounts for 90 % of international trade, is responsible for 2 to 3 % of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions...<\/p>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":584,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[21,20,22,19],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-95","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-commerce-international","category-decarbonation","category-reglementation","category-transport-maritime"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/globexco.fr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/95","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/globexco.fr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/globexco.fr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/globexco.fr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/globexco.fr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=95"}],"version-history":[{"count":18,"href":"https:\/\/globexco.fr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/95\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":827,"href":"https:\/\/globexco.fr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/95\/revisions\/827"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/globexco.fr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/584"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/globexco.fr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=95"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/globexco.fr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=95"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/globexco.fr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=95"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}![\"\"](\"https:\/\/globexco.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/emissions-de-co2-du-transport-maritime.jpg\"){kind=spacer}
<\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\nThe IMO agreement in 2025: a step forward, but with delays and limitations<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
What solutions are there for decarbonising the sector?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
Upcoming deadlines and challenges<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Uncertainties remain: the level of incentives for green fuels, the exact carbon intensity of biofuels, and the ability of governments to finance the transition. Without massive investment and stronger political will, the IMO\u2019s targets risk remaining out of reach.
The path forward is clear: by 2050, maritime transport must achieve carbon neutrality. This ambition is already driving innovation and creating new markets: green fuels, propulsion technologies, route optimisation, ship retrofitting\u2026 E-fuels, hydrogen and hybrid solutions offer growth prospects for manufacturers and investors.
It also holds the promise of modernisation for a sector that has always been able to adapt to industrial revolutions. Those players who anticipate these changes \u2013 by developing clean technologies, training their teams, or securing partnerships for the supply of sustainable fuels \u2013 will be the big winners of tomorrow.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"