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Maritime decarbonisation is the process of reducing the carbon emissions (and therefore the amount of greenhouse gases) produced by the global shipping industry. It is a key element in the shift towards greener shipping.

Maritime decarbonisation goes far beyond just looking at the emissions from vessels, it addresses the entire commercial maritime ecosystem, including vessel operators, shipbuilding yards, equipment suppliers, partners and other stakeholders. As such, a range of measures, innovations and processes fall under the umbrella term of maritime decarbonisation, including:

  • Choosing carbon-neutral or renewable fuels rather than carbon-intensive fossil fuels
  • Using advanced technology and software for more efficient voyages
  • Investing in and equipping vessels with alternative-fuel engines

 

 

Why does maritime decarbonisation matter?

 

In 2015, 195 parties (194 states plus the European Union) came together at COP21 to adopt The Paris Agreement – a legally binding international treaty on climate change. The ultimate goal of The Paris Agreement is to limit the increase in the global average temperature to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.

As the name suggests, global warming is a global problem and so achieving the aim of The Paris Agreement requires the cooperation of all industries across all countries. This is where maritime decarbonisation comes in – maritime decarbonisation aims to help shipping play its part in global plans to tackle climate change by ensuring that shipping finds ways to limit and reduce its carbon emissions.

Shipping is one of the most carbon efficient modes of transport, accounting for less than 3% of total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Furthermore, shipping has reduced its emissions by 18% since 2008. Having said this, 85% of global trade is carried on ships and the world shipping fleet produced an estimated 855mt of CO2 in 2021, so the shipping industry is still able to have a further positive impact on climate change goals.

Maritime decarbonisation is important because it is a key element of a wider move towards greener shipping, which in turn is playing its part in limiting climate change.

 

 

What are the key global targets and deadlines for maritime decarbonisation? 

 

Reducing shipping emissions is a complex area and there are various studies and differing views on the best, most effective way of doing so. Previously, the lack of a single clear path forward or tangible target has sometimes hindered progress, especially given that implementing change is resource heavy, and solutions must be commercially viable. However, in April 2025 that all changed when the International Maritime Organization (IMO) approved a deal – The IMO Net-Zero Framework – in which the shipping industry committed to be net-zero by 2050.

The IMO Net-Zero Framework combines mandatory emissions limits, a new fuel standard for vessels, and GHG pricing across the entire shipping industry – a world-first in any industry. The framework's formal adoption has been postponed to October 2026 due to geopolitical challenges. Implementation is now expected to begin in 2028*.

As part of this commitment, the IMO has also set out indicative checkpoints, which are mid-term emissions reduction targets for 2030 and 2040 on the way to 2050’s goal. These are:

  • Reducing GHG emissions by at least 20% by 2030 compared to 2008
  • Reducing GHG emissions by at least 70% by 2040 compared to 2008
  • Achieving net zero GHG emissions from international shipping by 2050

 

For further information, we have put together a full green transition timeline for shipping which goes into more detail about each milestone on the way to the 2050 goals.

*Correct at the time of writing. Targets are constantly under review and subject to change.

 

 

What are the main maritime decarbonisation strategies?

 

Maritime decarbonisation is an umbrella term that covers a broad spectrum of measures, regulations and processes all aimed at reducing GHG emissions from the shipping industry – some of which have already been introduced and others of which are due to be implemented at a key milestone on the road to the 2050 net-zero goal. 

Maritime decarbonisation strategies can generally be divided into one of three main categories: 

Fuels
  • Adoption of alternative fuels which are low/zero emissions (e.g. LNG, Methanol, green ammonia)
  • Electrification of port operations
  • Global carbon pricing mechanism
  • Levy on GHG emissions
  • Fuel standard with mandatory GHG reduction levels
  • Increased use of renewable energy

 

Efficiency
  • Expanding carbon capture programmes
  • Introducing energy management systems
  • Energy Efficiency Design Index (EEDI) mandating vessel efficiency levels
  • Carbon Intensity Indicator (CII) measuring ship efficiency
  • Speed optimisation measures – slow steaming to reduce fuel burn

 

Technology
  • AI-driven analytics
  • Blockchain-based emissions tracking
  • Smart port solutions
  • Using AI and weather routing for optimal voyage planning

 

Who is driving the maritime decarbonisation agenda? 

 

Maritime decarbonisation is a global priority, requiring the cooperation of people and organisations at all levels in all countries. Yet, with such ambitious targets and high stakes, there is also a need for someone to take responsibility for leading the movement. Currently, the key players who are driving maritime decarbonisation efforts include:

  • Political entities (e.g. The EU)
  • National governments
  • International bodies (e.g. IMO and GCMD)
  • Key industry players (e.g. Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd)

 

How is Clarksons supporting maritime decarbonisation? 

 

Clarksons provides market-leading support around maritime decarbonisation, offering clients a range of services to help maximise commercial opportunities while still meeting environmental targets. These services include:

  • Consultancy – developing and executing shipping decarbonisation strategies through asset and technology choice, and operational efficiency
  • Finance – highly experienced teams to facilitate a wide range of green financing initiatives
  • Carbon offsets – assessing and executing transactions to offset Scope 1, 2 & 3 emissions
  • Insight and data – data, authoritative insight and intelligence related to the energy transition helps clients make better-informed decisions
  • Fleet evolution – advising, executing and financing fleet renewal strategies with market-leading Sale & Purchase teams
  • Technology – proprietary technology and digital tools to provide solutions that harness data and promote better, cleaner decision making
  • Data-driven chartering brokers – informing cargo owners on how to ship cargos effectively