How Including Shipping in Paris Climate Targets Can Enhance Ocean Protection: A CleanTechnica Insight

At the 2025 UN Ocean Conference in Nice, key groups including Opportunity Green, Seas At Risk, and Transport & Environment are urging nations to address emissions from international shipping. They want these emissions to be included in each country’s climate action plans, also known as Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), ahead of COP30 in Belém, Brazil.

Legal experts suggest that shipping should be part of the Paris Agreement’s coverage of emissions, highlighting a significant gap in many countries’ climate strategies. Recently, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) approved a draft Net-Zero Framework to create a global plan for managing shipping emissions. If finalized, this would be a historic step, introducing penalties for greenhouse gas emissions from shipping.

However, experts say the current plan isn’t enough to meet climate goals effectively. Nations need to take further action to fill the gaps left by the IMO’s agreement. By integrating shipping emissions into their NDCs, countries can enforce regulations that target the significant environmental impact of maritime transport.

Experts stress that addressing emissions in shipping aligns with broader aims of ocean protection, like those discussed at the UNOC. For example, Aoife O’Leary from Opportunity Green warns of the serious damage caused by ignoring shipping emissions, urging states to take responsibility for their international legal obligations.

Anaïs Rios from Seas At Risk highlights shocking statistics: ships dump about 10 billion tons of toxic waste into oceans yearly. This waste enters the food chain, affecting marine life and human health. Rios calls for action, pointing out that acknowledging shipping emissions in climate plans could put the ocean at the forefront of climate solutions.

Moreover, recent data shows that global shipping accounts for around 3% of greenhouse gas emissions. This number could surge by up to 50% by 2050 without intervention. Shipping also dramatically impacts marine ecosystems, from increasing oil spills and underwater noise pollution to facilitating the spread of invasive species.

As countries prepare their next round of climate action plans, they should consider how their maritime activities contribute to climate change. In the past, only 25 countries included shipping mitigation strategies in their NDCs. Experts suggest that while the IMO regulates international shipping, national governments must also push for decarbonization within domestic contexts.

The discussions at the UNOC are vital. The maritime sector holds a crucial role in the global economy and addressing climate change. By bringing shipping emissions into the conversation and framing them as part of their climate commitments, countries can foster innovation and explore cleaner technologies. Ultimately, protecting our oceans is integral not just for wildlife but for the health of our planet and future generations.

For further details, refer to the Transport & Environment report.

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IMO,international maritime organization,ocean,oceans,Transport & Environment (T&E),United Nations (UN)