Member States of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) will reconvene from April 20 to May 1, 2026, for the 21st session of the Intersessional Working Group on Greenhouse Gases (ISWG-GHG 21) and the 84th session of the Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC 84). These meetings mark the first critical engagements since the decision at the second Extraordinary Session of the Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC/ES.2) in October 2025 to delay a vote on the proposed Net Zero Framework (NZF) by one year.
The NZF represents the IMO’s proposed global system to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from international shipping. The framework is designed to combine technical measures, such as fuel standards, with economic mechanisms intended to incentivise the transition to low- and zero-emission fuels. While the vote was deferred last year due to divergent positions on cost distribution and the pace of implementation, technical work has continued in the interim on guidelines for the framework’s eventual rollout.
However, the lead-up to MEPC 84 has revealed deep divisions over how to move from theory to practice. While some Member States continue to support adoption of the framework in its current form, others have proposed dismantling it entirely to pursue a new approach. A third group has advocated for a middle ground—retaining the framework as a foundation while making significant revisions to its technical and economic components before any final agreement is reached.
The April meetings are therefore expected to play a pivotal role in advancing negotiations and narrowing these differences. As countries work toward consensus, discussions are taking place against a backdrop of increasing urgency to operationalize the IMO’s 2023 commitment to achieve net-zero emissions from international shipping by or around 2050.
For the Caribbean, the outcomes of MEPC 84 carry particular significance. As Small Island Developing States (SIDS) with a high dependence on maritime transport for trade, energy, and food security, Caribbean countries are especially vulnerable to changes in global shipping systems. At the same time, the region faces significant exposure to the physical impacts of climate change, underscoring the need to balance economic feasibility with ambitious decarbonization targets.
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About the UWI–Caribbean Shipping Lanes Project
The UWI Caribbean Shipping Lanes (UWI-CSL) Project was established in 2024 to safeguard the vital maritime trade interests of Caribbean states within the global climate change framework. Operating out of the Shridath Ramphal Centre at The University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus, the project serves as the region’s technical lead, strengthening Caribbean participation in International Maritime Organization (IMO) negotiations.
The project’s immediate focus is supporting the region’s engagement in the IMO’s 2023 Strategy on the Reduction of Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions from Ships.
UWI-CSL coordinates and commissions specialized expert work, including impact assessments, economic modelling, and legal analysis, to evaluate how the IMO’s proposed measures will affect Caribbean trade and maritime operations. The project receives funding and critical support from the United Nations Foundation and is further strengthened by partnerships with academia and ongoing stakeholder consultations across the region, ensuring that Caribbean states benefit from high-quality technical support.