A coalition of seven Pacific Island states is pressing the International Maritime Organization to raise the bar on its Carbon Intensity Indicator, arguing that a year-long delay to the proposed Net-Zero Framework has left a critical gap in shipping’s path toward decarbonisation.
According to Ship & Bunker, Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, Palau, Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu jointly submitted a proposal to the IMO’s Marine Environment Protection Committee on March 3, outlining their concerns about the short-term emissions outlook as mid-term regulatory measures remain in limbo.
A Framework Under Pressure
The group characterised the current Net-Zero Framework as a “fragile compromise” — one that, while falling short of alignment with a 1.5°C pathway under the Paris Agreement, still represents the most politically workable route to near-term action. Critically, the co-sponsors warned against any efforts to reopen the framework for substantial revision, cautioning that such a move could unravel the delicate consensus reached among IMO member states.
As Ship & Bunker reports, the coalition stated: “The one-year adjournment places us dangerously close to missing the timelines agreed in the 2023 IMO Strategy.”
Filling the Gap With CII
The CII is the IMO’s existing short-term tool for measuring vessel efficiency, rating ships annually from A to E based on carbon dioxide emitted relative to the transport work performed. Vessels with lower ratings face requirements to take corrective action.
The Pacific Island nations argued that current CII thresholds lack the teeth needed to generate meaningful efficiency improvements. Without tighter standards, they warned, overall emissions could increase while the sector awaits the resolution of mid-term regulatory measures — a particular concern given the 2030 target of approximately a 30% reduction in emissions against 2008 levels, as noted by Ship & Bunker.
The group summed up the urgency bluntly: “Whilst politics paused, the climate crisis did not.”
Eyes on MEPC 84
The proposal has been submitted ahead of the 84th session of the Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC 84), scheduled to run from April 27 to May 1, according to Ship & Bunker. The session is expected to be a pivotal moment for the direction of shipping’s decarbonisation agenda.
Gulf Bunkering does not provide operational or security guidance. This article is for informational purposes only. Operators should consult flag state authorities, P&I clubs, and relevant advisories for decisions relating to transit planning.
Sources: Ship & Bunker
