Members of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) have voted to postpone approval of a plan to curb emissions from shipping, after US President Donald Trump threatened to impose sanctions on countries that supported the measure.
Friday’s vote delayed plans to regulate the shipping industry’s contributions to climate change by at least 12 months, even though the Net Zero Framework (NZF) had already been approved by members of the IMO, a London-based United Nations body, in April.
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The decision to formally delay adoption of the framework until late next year came a day after President Trump used his Truth Social platform and said, “I am outraged that the International Maritime Organization is voting in London this week to pass a global carbon tax.”
“The United States will NOT tolerate this fraudulent new green global tax on shipping,” he said, counting the countries that voted against the plan.
Washington also threatened to impose sanctions, visa restrictions and port levies on countries that supported the agreement.
Ahead of this week’s meeting in London, around 63 IMO members who had voted in favor of the plan in April were expected to maintain their support for the emissions curbs, and others were expected to join the effort to formally approve the framework.
Following Trump’s threat on social media, delegates in London voted on a hastily prepared resolution to delay proceedings on the matter, which passed by 57 votes to 49.
The IMO, which comprises 176 member countries, is responsible for regulating the safety of international shipping and preventing pollution on the high seas.
Since returning to power in January, Trump has focused on reversing Washington’s course on climate change, encouraging the use of fossil fuels through deregulation, cutting funding for clean energy projects and promising companies to “drill, drill.”
‘A missed opportunity’
A spokesman for UN chief Antonio Guterres called Friday’s decisions “a missed opportunity for member states to put the maritime sector on a clear and credible path to net zero emissions.”
The International Chamber of Shipping, which represents more than 80 percent of the world’s fleet, also expressed its disappointment.
“The industry needs clarity to be able to make the investments necessary to decarbonize the maritime sector,” chamber secretary general Thomas Kazakos said in a statement.
Disappointed, but still very committed! https://t.co/7P192kAvCx
– Thomas A. Kazakos (@ThomasKazakos) October 17, 2025
Ralph Regenvanu, Vanuatu’s climate change minister, said the decision to delay the vote by 12 months was “unacceptable given the urgency we face in the face of accelerating climate change.”
“But we know that we have international law on our side and we will continue to fight for our people and the planet,” Regenvanu added.
Before Friday’s decision, China, the European Union, Brazil, Britain and several other IMO members had reaffirmed their support.
Countries that opposed the measures included Russia and Saudi Arabia.
A Russian delegate described the proceedings as “chaos” when he addressed the plenary on Friday after talks dragged into the early hours.
Argentina and Singapore, two countries that had previously voted in favor of the framework in April, were among those that voted to postpone its introduction this week.
Had it been formally adopted this week, the Net Zero Framework (NZF) would have been the first global carbon pricing system, charging ships a fine of $380 per metric ton for each additional ton of CO2 equivalent they emit and rewarding ships that reduce their emissions by using alternatives.
The framework plan aims to help the IMO achieve its goal of reducing net emissions from international shipping by 20 percent by 2030 and eliminating them by 2050.
Climate change is already beginning to affect shipping and the safety of seafarers, including by changing ocean currents and causing more frequent and severe storms.
Proposals to reduce the shipping industry’s reliance on dirtier fuels include the use of ammonia and methanol, as well as equipping cargo ships with special sails.
