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Climate Clash at Sea — Politics Stall Progress on Shipping’s Net-Zero Future

US Blocks Global Deal to Cut Shipping Emissions; IMO Vote Delays Carbon Tax by a Year.                                                                                                                                

The United States has derailed efforts to adopt the first global carbon tax on shipping, prompting the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) to delay the decision by one year after a tense vote. Backed by Saudi Arabia’s motion, 57 countries, including India, voted to adjourn the adoption of the Net Zero Framework (NZF) — a proposal that aimed to make global shipping carbon-neutral by 2050. US President Donald Trump threatened sanctions, higher port fees, and trade penalties against nations supporting the carbon levy, calling it a “Global Green New Scam Tax.” The NZF sought to introduce a carbon fee to fund green fuel development and emission reduction, but faced opposition from shipowners and smaller economies, citing cost burdens. Industry leaders and environmental advocates warned that the delay risks fragmentation, policy uncertainty, and lost investment in green shipping, slowing the sector’s transition toward sustainable, low-emission maritime transport.