RISK & RESILIENCE
The IMO’ s recent one-year pause on its Net-Zero Framework( NZF) has revealed the effect of geopolitics in climate regulation. With 57 votes in favour, 49 against and 21 abstentions, the outcome scraped through the required majority, stalling a framework that would impose carbon intensity targets on ships over 5,000 gross tonnes from 2028.
Singapore tabled the motion, whilst Saudi Arabia pushed it to a vote. However it was the US that dominated the diplomatic landscape. President Donald Trump branded the NZF a“ Global Green New Scam Tax on Shipping” and warned the US will not comply“ in any shape or form”.
Washington and Riyadh also attempted to shift the IMO’ s usual consensus process into a stricter format, forcing deeper scrutiny on implementation.
Though this procedural change failed, the delay achieves the same outcome: more time to influence climate proceedings.
IMO Secretary General Arsenio Dominguez told delegates:“ There are no winners and losers in this session.”
For the NZF, the delay could allow more technical work, but also opens space for further international fracturing on sustainability policy.
Arsenio Dominguez, Secretary General,
IMO