Toward a Just and Equitable Transition to Decarbonization of the International Shipping Sector

Ocean shipping handles 90% of global trade and may triple by 2050, while contributing about 3% of greenhouse gas (GHG). In 2021, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) confirmed unprecedented warming due to human activities. Reducing emissions is complex, and needs diplomacy, science, and reform as legal frameworks emerge. This chapter examines legal and policy limits shaping maritime decarbonization through low or zero-emission fuel adoption. Progress requires technology, finance, and skills among global stakeholders. Though not under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), International Maritime Organization (IMO) addresses shipping emissions by global rules. This highlights the need for cooperation among flag, coastal, and port states under IMO. While climate law promotes fairness, maritime complexity persists. The UNFCCC promotes equity through the legal doctrine of Common but Differentiated Responsibilities and Respective Capabilities (CBDR-RC) recognizing varied socio-economic contexts. IMO instruments apply non-discrimination and “no more favorable treatment” (NMFT), regardless of national context. The 2023 GHG Strategy balances CBDR-RC and NMFT using constructive ambiguity. Technology enables just decarbonization, possibly using GHG pricing. The chapter stresses the policy need to cut maritime GHGs and how technology supports a just transition within legal frameworks, now and ahead.