Maritime Decarbonisation Strategy

The maritime sector is vital to the UK, with over 95% of cargo imports and exports, by weight, moving by sea. Whilst UK maritime GHG emissions have declined by 30% since 1990, in 2022 maritime contributed 8% of total UK transport GHG emissions, relatively evenly split between domestic and international maritime. 2024 saw significant progress in tackling international emissions including the UK taking a leading role at the IMO, pushing for an ambitious fuel standard and a global levy on international shipping emissions – a sector that emits more GHGs than most countries. This builds on the 2023 IMO GHG Strategy which set ambitious goals for GHG emission reductions and include an agreement to develop technical and economic measures to deliver them.

As an international climate leader, the UK was the first major economy to legislate for net zero, making it a legal imperative to reduce our domestic GHG emissions by at least 100% by 2050 , with five-yearly ‘carbon budgets’. In line with these targets, this Strategy sets the pathway for our domestic maritime sector to reach zero fuel lifecycle GHG emissions by 2050 and provides regulatory certainty for the maritime sector.

Aligned with the highest level of international ambition in the 2023 IMO GHG Strategy, our goals are for UK domestic maritime to aim for zero fuel lifecycle GHG emissions by 2050, with at least a 30% reduction by 2030 and an 80% reduction by 2040, relative to 2008 levels. This will once again show how increased domestic action can be used to catalyse high international ambition.

Our policies are underpinned by guiding principles to enable their success and designed to help deliver the Government’s missions.