International shipping and aviation put a number of negative pressures on the environment, including greenhouse gas emissions. Although these two sectors are not directly included in the Paris Agreement, the International Civil Aviation Organization has adopted an aircraft CO2 emissions standard to reduce the impact of aviation greenhouse gas emissions on the global climate. In this context, the shipping industry was also expected to critically contribute towards achieving the Paris Agreement goals and to support sector’s  sustainability.

In April 2018, the International Maritime Organization made a key contribution to the Paris Agreement through the adoption of a first strategy for reducing shipping emissions. At a historic session of the IMO’s Marine Environment Protection Committee, 173 countries agreed to at least 50% reduction of shipping carbon emission by 2050 compared with 2008. UN Climate Change Executive Secretary Patricia Espinosa said: “The decision to at least halve greenhouse gas emissions from international maritime transport by 2050 is a major milestone in addressing climate change. It will accelerate the  inevitable decarbonization of global shipping, which we all need to achieve  the goals of the Paris Agreement.”

Maritime transport is currently responsible for only 2.2% of global emissions, however it is projected to significantly grow (according to the  third IMO GHG Study 2014, emissions could grow by between 50% and 250% by 2050). Roughly 90% of all internationally traded goods get to where they’re going by sea. The ships are a massive source of greenhouse gases, especially, due to cheap and extremely dirty bunker fuels containing much higher concentration of carbon emissions than fuel used in cars. Thus, reducing  greenhouse gas emissions from shipping is understood to be essential to  tackling climate change.

Initial IMO Strategy on reduction of GHG emissions from ships identifies levels of ambition for the international shipping sector. It builds on  technological innovation and the global introduction of alternative fuels and energy sources for international shipping. Initial strategy includes three  levels of ambition: 1) carbon intensity of the ship to decline, 2) carbon intensity of international shipping to decline, 3) GHG emissions from international shipping to peak and decline. Most importantly, the IMO is committed to at least 50% reduction of shipping carbon emission by 2050 compared with 2008.