Wildlife crime continues to pose a significant threat to biodiversity, local and national economies, as well as national and international security. The illicit trafficking of wildlife not only endangers countless species but also undermines the stability of ecosystems and jeopardizes the livelihoods of communities worldwide. Recognising the severity of this issue, ten leading organisations have joined forces to combat illegal wildlife trafficking through increasing awareness and vigilance across global supply chains.

Washington/Brussels/London/Singapore, 15 February 2024 – The global shipping regulator, the UN International Maritime Organisation, has set a target of net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 for the industry, and now needs to develop climate regulations by 2025 that make it possible to reach that target. A core challenge is how to craft a global greenhouse gas pricing regulation that can bridge the price gap between the cleanest fuels and fossil fuels, driving investments in green fuels, without imposing an outsized cost on the global economy. As member nations prepare for negotiations at the IMO MEPC 81 in March, the World Shipping Council is bringing to the table a proposal on greenhouse gas pricing that can help solve this conundrum.

The European Commission's recommendation for the EU's 2040 climate targets, calling for a 90% net GHG emission reductions, are ambitious and critically important, especially following updates suggesting that EU 2030 goals may be not be met.

The EU goals recognize the need to incentivize the production of green maritime fuels and to prioritize green fuels access for the maritime sector.

Liner shipping has begun the transformative journey towards decarbonisation, and we look forward to contributing to the EU translation of goals into action.

Washington/Brussels/London/Singapore, 7 December 2023 – To deliver on the goal of net zero emissions for shipping by 2050, IMO greenhouse gas regulations must rest on solid foundations. Liner shipping is committed to decarbonising quickly and efficiently, and to support this process the World Shipping Council (WSC) has today published its first contribution to negotiations at IMO MEPC 81, with a paper outlining four cornerstones critical to an effective IMO GHG agreement.

Accidental collisions between ships and whales are a global concern, and can occur wherever there is an overlap between whale activity and vessel traffic. To help seafarers plan their voyages to minimize the risk of collisions, the World Shipping Council (WSC) is today launching the WSC Whale Chart. This navigational aid is the first global mapping of all mandatory and voluntary governmental measures to reduce harm to whales from ships. The WSC Whale Chart is available for free to all interested parties and will be regularly updated.

Brussels, 21 September – The European Shipping Summit 2023 in Brussels 19-20 September brought together representatives from across the maritime industry, government, finance, as well as energy and technology industries to address some of the most pressing topics for the future of the industry and of Europe. Making the most of this unique platform, the World Shipping Council gathered people and organisations to drive progress on the availability of renewable maritime fuels and the fight against drug trafficking. While the topics are diverse, leaders at both sessions agreed – together we go further, faster.  

London, 7 July 2023 – At MEPC 80, IMO member nations met the shipping industry’s call for action on climate, setting a target of net-zero GHG emissions by 2050 and interim targets for 2030 and 2040. Most importantly, the updated GHG strategy now sets a clear timeline for the development of the lifecycle-based global fuel standard and economic instrument, to be agreed by 2025 and ready for implementation in 2027.

Washington, Singapore/Brussels, 16 December 2022 – In its first in-person session in three years, the IMO Marine Environment Protection Committee 79 (MEPC 79) addressed a broad array of issues, taking important steps forward on the path to impactful regulation to drive the decarbonisation of shipping.

Brussels, 9 December 2022 – In an open letter to decision-makers in Brussels, the World Shipping Council (WSC) together with Danish Shipping and the Methanol Institute urge decision-makers to reach an agreement on the FuelEU Maritime which will help reduce shipping GHG emissions.

The liner sector, including container and vehicle carriers, are leading decarbonisation investment in new fleets that are ready for alternative fuels that reduce GHGs. Future-ready fleets will be demanding more and more green fuels with lower GHG intensity to ensure that we meet decarbonisation targets.

Late 29 November 2022, the European Parliament, Council and Commission reached a preliminary agreement on maritime elements of the EU ETS. Including the maritime sector in the EU ETS will encourage shipping’s journey towards decarbonisation as well as accelerate emission reductions among non-maritime sectors. The provisional agreement on shipping is subject to an overall agreement on the ETS revision, later this year or next.

The total climate footprint from production to combustion should be considered in the EU ETS for maritime. The World Shipping Council joins with Danish Shipping and renewable energy producers, shipowners and other organisations in an open letter to EU’s decision makers.

Having concluded on short-term climate measures at IMO MEPC 78, member nations and organisations have turned their full attention to developing the mid-term measures necessary to progress the decarbonisation of shipping. In a recent paper to IMO ISWG-GHG 13 and MEPC 79, the World Shipping Council (WSC) examines the current proposals, highlighting three key suggestions to support swift progress and ensure that regulations are effective in driving the transition to alternative fuels and propulsion technologies in line with global climate goals.

WSC and member liner carriers are highly concerned about Parliament’s delay in finalizing its position on FuelEU Maritime. Liner carriers are committed to decarbonizing the industry as soon as possible and are already investing in alternative fuel technology. Fuel EU Maritime is crucial for EU policymakers to reach their climate goals, and for the progress of shipping decarbonization.

The WSC acknowledges the important milestone that has been reached following the adoption of the European Parliament’s position on the EU ETS proposal. WSC calls on the EU institutions to work together in the trilogue process to ensure that EU ETS provides the correct market signals for decarbonising the shipping industry in support of the EU Green Deal GHG goals.

As the IMO MEPC78 draws to a close, we have seen good progress on several important topics, including on the next phase of the IMO greenhouse gas (GHG) strategy. WSC urges member states to maintain the momentum and step up the crucial work on developing the pathways to decarbonising shipping.

The European Parliament’s ENVI Committee today adopted its report on the proposal on the revision of the EU ETS. The World Shipping Council (WSC) welcomes this crucial step towards the achievement of the goals of the EU Green Deal but stresses that improvements to the ETS proposal are still needed.

The World Shipping Council (WSC) together with prominent maritime nations and organisations representing all shipping sectors continue to work for the early adoption of an industry financed and IMO led research and development fund as a critical pathway to accelerate the development of technologies for zero carbon shipping.

Transitioning global shipping from a carbon dependent industry into one that operates without greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions is a massive task. Container and roro carriers are already investing in the development of zero GHG technologies and are committed to enabling the industry’s transition to zero, but clear global regulations are needed. The World Shipping Council (WSC) has identified six regulatory and economic pathways, all of which are critical for the nations of the UN International Maritime Organisation to address for a successful maritime energy transition.

The European Parliament’s lead MEP on the EU ETS proposes amendments to the ETS for maritime that put the impact and efficiency of the EU Green Deal at risk, says World Shipping Council (WSC). WSC has two primary concerns: 1. The proposed changed definition of “responsible entity” would corrupt the ETS; 2. The bilateral agreements proposed would undermine progress towards global GHG policy.

“Our appeal to political leaders and regulators is to not get stuck in a cycle of ambition bidding, but to take action for inclusive change in the shipping industry. Whilst we are disappointed there was no decision, the MEPC 77 saw a notable increase in the number of nations supporting the establishment of an industry-financed research fund, pushing USD 5 billion into R&D towards zero-GHG technologies that will be available to all nations. The initiative is ready to launch, has support from the Green Climate Fund, and we will keep supporting member nations working for a positive resolution at MEPC 78,” says John Butler, WSC President & CEO.