US Delaying Shipping Emissions Action-What’s the Environmental Impact?

Shipping produces nearly 3% of global CO₂ emissions, and the US blocking the IMO's carbon-pricing plan delays the sector's main decarbonisation lever — leaving cleaner fuels and voluntary action to fill the gap. For companies that ship goods, waiting for regulation is no longer a strategy.

What happened

• The proposal: the IMO's Net-Zero Framework would price shipping carbon, funding the transition to cleaner fuels.
• The block: US opposition delayed adoption, stalling the first global carbon price on an entire industry.
• The stakes: ~3% of world CO₂ — comparable to a major economy — keeps growing with trade.
• The gap: without pricing, the cost of pollution stays at zero while green fuels stay expensive.

What it means for businesses

Supply-chain emissions (Scope 3) don't pause for politics. Customers and regulators increasingly expect companies to account for shipping footprints regardless of IMO timelines — measuring freight emissions and compensating credibly is becoming standard practice.

Act without waiting

Evertreen helps companies take responsibility now: estimate your footprint, then balance shipping emissions with Verra and Gold Standard offsets and geolocated tree planting your customers can see.

Frequently asked questions

How much CO₂ does shipping emit? Nearly 3% of global emissions — and rising with trade volumes.

What is the IMO carbon-pricing proposal? A global fee on shipping emissions under the IMO Net-Zero Framework, currently delayed after US opposition.

What can shippers do meanwhile? Measure freight emissions, choose efficient routes/carriers, and offset the residual with certified credits.