International Maritime Organization to continue negotiating measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from ships

The Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) will meet in London from 27 April to 1 May 2026. IMO Member States are expected to decide the next steps in negotiations on reducing greenhouse gas emissions from shipping. Other topics to be discussed include specifications to the rules on the carbon intensity and energy efficiency of vessels, the regulation of ballast water and guidance on reducing underwater noise.

The Committee’s 84th session is to continue negotiations on how to proceed with decision-making on the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from ships, which was postponed for 12 months in October 2025. The reduction targets were agreed in the IMO’s greenhouse gas strategy in 2023.

The goal of the IMO is to reach carbon neutrality in maritime transport by or around 2050, taking into account national circumstances. By 2030, greenhouse gas emissions from ships must be reduced by at least 20 per cent compared to 2008. The interim target set for 2040 is a reduction of at least 70 per cent.

Finland supports continuing negotiations based on the Net-Zero Framework

Finland is in favour of continuing negotiations on emission reduction measures based on the IMO Net-Zero Framework provisionally adopted in April 2025. The reduction measures must be sufficient to meet the targets agreed in 2023.

Without effective globally coordinated action in shipping, it will be impossible to achieve the IMO’s jointly set emission reduction targets. Clear global measures would also provide the shipping and maritime industries with certainty about the pace of transition to alternative fuels. Finland’s maritime cluster is among the world leaders in developing and deploying environmental innovations. Developing low-emission and zero-emission solutions in Finland creates growth and jobs.

In addition, Finland considers it important that regulation takes into account the safe passage of ships in ice-covered areas. Finland has submitted a related proposal to IMO together with other EU Member States and several non-European countries. 

The session will also discuss specifications to the existing regulations on energy efficiency and carbon intensity of ships, the regulation of ballast water of ships and the option of regulating underwater noise. The Finnish delegation includes representatives of the Ministry of Transport and Communications, the Embassy of Finland in London, the Finnish Transport and Communications Agency Traficom, the Finnish Meteorological Institute, the Finnish Environment Institute and the Government of Åland.

Inquiries:

Eero Hokkanen, Senior Ministerial Adviser, Alternate Permanent Representative of Finland to the IMO, tel. +358 50 476 0401, eero.hokkanen(at)gov.fi