Norway has formally opposed Liberia's proposed changes to the International Maritime Organization's (IMO) Net-Zero Framework (NZF), arguing that the amendments are inconsistent with the IMO's 2050 net-zero target for international shipping—a sector that accounts for approximately 3% of global greenhouse gas emissions.

In a submission to the IMO filed last month ahead of technical talks scheduled for September, Norway stated that Liberia's proposal would link the Greenhouse Gas Fuel Intensity (GFI) trajectory to "commercially available fuels," using criteria that include price, market availability, and scalability.

During the MEPC 84 meeting earlier this year, Liberia, together with other countries, proposed modifications to the NZF, including tying its GFI targets to the cost and availability of commercially available fuels. Liberia is one of the world's largest ship registries by tonnage, giving its positions on maritime regulation significant weight among flag states and shipowners. The proposal garnered support from certain member states at that time.

Fossil LNG Identified as Primary Beneficiary

Norway contends in its submission that very few low-carbon marine fuels are likely to meet the proposed affordability threshold, under which fuel prices must not exceed 100% above the global average price of the fossil reference fuel.

Norway further stated that fossil LNG would likely be the only alternative fuel capable of reaching the proposed minimum 4% market share without additional regulatory drivers. Under Liberia's proposed methodology, this outcome would result in a GFI reduction requirement of only approximately 20% over a 30-year period.

Norway cautioned that the approach fails to provide a firm demand signal for low-GHG fuels and carries the risk of locking the maritime sector into fossil fuels. This concern reflects a broader debate within the IMO over whether the NZF should rely primarily on technology-neutral intensity targets or pair them with economic mechanisms designed to close the cost gap between fossil and alternative fuels. Norway also expressed opposition to removing the economic elements of the framework, including remedial units and the IMO Net-Zero Fund.

"Consequently, this proposal cannot be supported by Norway," the country stated in its submission.

NZF Timeline and Upcoming Meetings

The NZF failed to secure a final vote in October 2025, resulting in a decision being postponed by one year. In an effort to achieve broader consensus on the framework, two inter-sessional meetings have been scheduled for September and November ahead of MEPC 85.