My final New Year green resolution – Part Four

Following his blog last week, Midlands green energy expert Ron Fox concludes with his final New Year green resolution for 2026.

Think again over shipping deal delay: “This is an appeal to the world leaders to rethink the decision to adjourn the UN landmark deal to cut global shipping emissions, which has been put back after ten years of negotiations,” said Ron, of Noreus Ltd on the University of Keele Science Innovation Park.

“It is a backward step in the fight against climate change as shipping makes up 3 per cent of global emissions.”

More than 100 countries had gathered in London in October last year to agree the final approval and finalise the next steps, which would have seen shipping become the world’s first industry to adopt internationally mandated targets to reduce carbon emissions.

It would have meant that from 2028 ship owners would have to use increasingly cleaner fuels or face fines.

But in a dramatic conclusion, when countries should have been voting to approve the deal, Saudi Arabia tabled a motion to adjourn the talks for a year, which was passed by just a handful of votes.

The chairman said this would mean the agreement was not approved, as key timelines for the treaty would have to be revised.

“It is so frustrating as the shipping industry has been broadly supportive of the deal because it offered consistent global standards,” said Ron.

The UK and most EU nations voted to continue the talks, but some countries, including Greece, went against the EU bloc and voted to abstain.

The countries that voted in favour of adjourning the talks included Russia, Saudi Arabia and the USA, who raised concerns that the deal would lead to price rises for consumers.

Some key countries, including China, which had initially voted to support the deal in April, agreed to delay proceedings.

Now, the carefully planned timeline to get the regulations in place for 2028 does not appear feasible.

Without a new agreement, the International Maritime Organisation has estimated that, with global trade increasing, emissions could grow by between 10 per cent and 150 per cent by 2050.

But there is hope as the vote, expected in October last year on its Net-Zero Framework, has now been rescheduled for an extraordinary session of the UN’s International Maritime Organisation (IMO) in October 2026.

Discussions will take place this year to try to resolve differences on key issues, such as the level of the carbon price and how the revenues are used.

The shipping industry generally favours a unified global standard, but the specifics remain contentious, with potential impacts on fuel choices and investments in clean technologies.

“I hope they look again at this proposal this October and realise the seriousness if no deal is reached,” concluded Ron.

For those wanting more advice about green energy and fighting climate change, call Ron on 0845 474 6641 or contact us here.

Caption: Rethink shipping deal delay and fight climate change. Picture: John Butterworth