The maritime sector is responsible for approximately 3% of global greenhouse gas emissions and, as such, has a similar impact to the global aviation sector. Until recently, regulatory developments and priorities for mitigating the impact of climate change seemed to lag behind the aviation sector, but April 2025 marks a pivotal moment for regulatory progress in this sector as well.
During the meeting of the Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC 83), held from 7 to 11 April 2025 at IMO Headquarters in London, the IMO took a major step forward, as the Committee finalized and approved the draft legal text for the IMO Net-Zero Framework to be included as a new chapter in Annex VI of the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships.
This initial draft regulation will establish mandatory standards for marine fuels and a greenhouse gas pricing system for maritime transport to address climate change and currently represents a step forward. The evolution towards specific regulations for the international shipping sector is ongoing, and projects like REFOLUTION are contributing to these goals.
The IEA Bioenergy TCP ExCo96 workshop was a crucial meeting to discuss key issues focusing on the deep-sea and intercontinental maritime sector, presenting data and dimensions of the maritime sector, exploring new IMO regulatory elements, gathering perspectives from international stakeholders on the sector’s upcoming transformations and sharing technological developments in the field of biofuels.
REFOLUTION took part in the event thanks to the coordinator Duncan Akporiaye (SINTEF) who shed light on the Developments in liquefaction routes for biofuels and other renewable fuels in the event’s second session “Overview of the portfolio of biofuels and sustainable energy carriers to ensure low-carbon performance“.
CREDIT: SINTEF
Regulatory and technological advances show us that change is possible and happening and initiatives like REFOLUTION are essential to driving the sector towards decarbonization.
You can view the REFOLUTION presentation HERE.
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