Between the 14th and 17th of October 2025, 135 countries convened at the London headquarters of the International Maritime Organisation for an extraordinary session. The IMO’s Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC)’s second-ever session had a singular objective: to adopt the Net Zero Framework – the world’s first comprehensive decarbonization framework for international shipping. Despite considerable preparatory work over a decade, the session concluded without achieving its primary goal.
The IMO’s extraordinary session (MEPC-ES.2) brought together Member States to decide how the global maritime sector will move toward net-zero emissions. At the heart of the week-long discussions was the revised MARPOL Annex VI, a package that introduces two key tools: a Greenhouse Gas Fuel-Intensity (GFI) standard and an IMO Net-Zero Fund to support developing countries.
While most delegates agreed on the need for global action, the meeting revealed a sharp divide over how decisions should take effect through tacit acceptance (automatic entry into force unless objected to) or explicit acceptance (requiring formal approval by each country). This procedural choice became symbolic of a deeper debate between efficiency and sovereignty.
Across four days, discussions shifted from legal questions to institutional arrangements, including a proposal to establish a Sub-Committee on GHG Reduction for better coordination and inclusivity. The week ended dramatically and without adopting the Net-Zero Framework after a roll-call vote to adjourn the session for a year. With a majority supporting this motion, the matter would return at a future MEPC session one year from now, leaving the framework’s final adoption for another day.
While the session reaffirmed growing momentum amidst blocs of alignment on decarbonising shipping, it exposed the institutional and political hurdles that remain. The full report below captures the highlights of proceedings, regional positions, and the pathway ahead for the IMO’s climate governance.
