High-Risk Biofuels and Shipping's Green Deal
New rules on shipping fuel emissions must consider indirect impacts on forests and food production to avoid unintended consequences.
This year, the United Nations made a significant step in global climate diplomacy by addressing international shipping, one of the world's largest polluters.
In April 2025, governments reached a historic agreement at the International Maritime Organization (IMO) on the Net-Zero Framework, which will be the world's first binding global emission pricing on any sector.
The policy must account for indirect impacts on forests and food production, otherwise owners may rush to use soy and palm oil to power their vessels.
Authors: Alison Shaw, Natacha Stamatiou, Jamie Yates, and Mark Lutes, experts in environmental organizations.
Author's summary: Shipping's green deal may be sunk by high-risk biofuels.