Maritime decarbonisation: Current issues facing shipping companies and new IMO net-zero regulations

In April 2025, the International Maritime Organisation’s (IMO) announced its Net-Zero Framework (the Framework). The Framework is considered an important step towards establishing a legally binding framework to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from ships globally, aiming for net-zero emissions by or around 2050. The Framework is the first in the world to combine mandatory emissions limits and GHG emissions pricing across an entire industry sector. Measures will become mandatory for large ocean-going ships over 5,000 gross tonnage and are set to be formally adopted in October 2025 before they enter into force in 2027. Read more on the IMO’s draft measures here.