COP31 and maritime: Key climate priorities for shipping, oceans and transport

November 9 ------ As world leaders prepare to gather in Antalya, Türkiye, for COP31, attention is turning to the implementation of climate commitments, with maritime decarbonization, ocean protection, cleaner transport and investment in sustainable infrastructure among the priorities relevant to the shipping industry.

The 31st United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP31) will take place from 9 to 20 November 2026, bringing together governments, international organizations, industry representatives, scientists and civil society to advance global climate action under the Paris Agreement.

Hosted by Türkiye, with Australia serving as President of Negotiations, COP31 is being positioned as an “Implementation COP”, focusing on translating climate commitments into measurable progress. Its guiding principles are Dialogue, Consensus and Action, with an emphasis on international cooperation and practical solutions.

For shipping, COP31 provides an opportunity to connect the sector’s decarbonization ambitions with wider developments in energy production, port infrastructure, marine biodiversity and international climate cooperation.

COP31: From ambition to implementation

The COP31 Presidency has identified ten priority themes: Clean Energy Transition and Electrification; Zero Waste and Methane Reduction; Climate-Resilient Cities; Green Industrialization; Youth and Education; Food Security; Oceans and Seas; Dynamic and Resilient Health Systems; Rio Synergies; and the Climate Implementation Bridge.

As stated in its third letter, the Action Agenda is intended to mobilize voluntary initiatives, partnerships and investment to accelerate practical implementation, with measurable global targets extending to 2035. Although maritime transport is not a standalone priority, shipping and ports are closely connected to several themes, particularly through emissions reduction, sustainable logistics, cleaner energy, infrastructure resilience and ocean protection. Importantly, the Presidency clarifies that the proposed targets are intended to encourage cooperation rather than introduce new obligations for individual countries.

Maritime decarbonization and the IMO Net-Zero Framework

One of the main issues for shipping remains the development of a global regulatory framework capable of supporting the industry’s transition towards net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by or around 2050. Following the adoption of the 2023 IMO GHG Strategy, the International Maritime Organization advanced the proposed IMO Net-Zero Framework, combining greenhouse gas fuel-intensity requirements with an economic mechanism intended to encourage cleaner fuels and technologies.

However, the IMO’s decision in October 2025 to postpone adoption created uncertainty over the next steps. Discussions have continued on compliance flexibility, financial contributions, fuel treatment and incentives for zero- and near-zero-emission technologies. At the Global Maritime Forum Annual Summit in Shanghai in October 2026, maritime leaders renewed their support for global IMO regulation to provide greater investment certainty.

As SAFETY4SEA previously reported, IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez reaffirmed the organization’s long-term objective: “The goal remains in place: the decarbonization of the sector is by 2050.”

Environmental organizations are also calling for stronger international action. According to Seas At Risk, the proposed IMO Net-Zero Framework represents an important opportunity to accelerate shipping’s transition towards cleaner energy, but further delays or weaker measures could undermine progress. The organization has called for an ambitious and equitable framework, including a dedicated fund to support developing countries and communities facing disproportionate transition costs.

Anais Rios, Senior Shipping Policy Officer at Seas At Risk, stressed: “Every fraction of a degree of heating risks large-scale and irreversible damage to our ocean and its ecosystems. At COP31, world leaders must turn promise into action and cut fossil fuels from every sector, including shipping, to protect the ocean that protects us from climate change.”

While COP31 will not decide the IMO Net-Zero Framework, the conference provides a platform for connecting shipping’s regulatory ambitions with wider climate policies and investment priorities. Meanwhile, regional measures, including the EU Emissions Trading System and FuelEU Maritime, continue to shape operational and commercial decisions.

Oceans and seas: From marine biodiversity to action on pollution

Ocean protection is one of the COP31 Presidency’s priorities, reflecting growing recognition of the relationship between climate change, marine biodiversity and coastal resilience.

According to the Presidency, oceans absorb approximately 25% of human-produced carbon dioxide, while rising temperatures, acidification and marine heatwaves threaten ecosystems, fisheries and coastal communities. The Oceans and Seas priority focuses on blue carbon ecosystems, coastal resilience, ocean observation, data sharing and international partnerships.

A significant development came on 11 September 2026, when the COP31 Presidency launched the Marine Litter Action Platform during the Oceans and Seas Summit in Trabzon, Türkiye. According to the COP31 Presidency, the platform aims to accelerate marine-litter solutions by connecting successful projects with technical knowledge, monitoring capabilities and financing opportunities. Its work will focus on three areas: sharing effective practices, establishing a digital monitoring dashboard to map marine-litter initiatives, and linking projects with potential technical and financial partners.

The platform connects the Presidency’s Oceans and Seas and Zero Waste priorities, reinforcing the relationship between waste management, marine ecosystem protection and climate action.

Speaking at the Trabzon summit, COP31 President-Designate Murat Kurum stated: "Protecting the oceans is a responsibility we all share. We call on every party to turn that responsibility into bold, concrete action: restoring ecosystems and building resilience."

For shipping, this agenda has particular relevance. Beyond greenhouse gas emissions, vessels can affect marine ecosystems through plastic pollution, underwater radiated noise, ship strikes involving marine mammals and the transfer of invasive aquatic species. These issues are also addressed through IMO environmental measures, including ongoing efforts to reduce marine plastic litter from ships.

Blue Shipping Corridors and marine biodiversity

Another initiative gaining attention ahead of COP31 is the Marine Biodiversity and Ocean Health (MBOH) Breakthrough for International Shipping, supported by the Sustainable Shipping Initiative (SSI). According to SSI, the initiative seeks to reduce shipping’s negative impacts on marine biodiversity by 30% by 2030, bringing together maritime stakeholders, policymakers and civil society. The initiative is also advancing the concept of Blue Shipping Corridors, extending cooperation beyond emissions reduction to address wider ocean health and biodiversity priorities.

An ambition statement supporting Blue Shipping Corridors has been announced ahead of COP31, although its precise launch arrangements at the conference have not been independently confirmed. The concept builds on existing green-corridor partnerships, encouraging shipowners, charterers, ports and other stakeholders to integrate marine biodiversity considerations alongside decarbonisation objectives.

For maritime stakeholders, this signals a broader approach to environmental performance, where reducing greenhouse gas emissions is considered alongside protecting the marine environment. In addition, the environmental implications of shipping extend to the Arctic, where black carbon emissions from vessels can contribute to accelerated warming when deposited on snow and ice. Seas At Risk is calling for stronger action to reduce methane and black carbon emissions, alongside wider deployment of clean technologies, including wind-assisted propulsion. The organization also highlights the importance of protecting marine ecosystems from irreversible damage as global temperatures continue to rise.

Green shipping corridors, electrification and clean fuels

Accelerating clean energy deployment and electrification is another priority of the COP31 Presidency. According to its third letter, electricity currently accounts for approximately 23% of global final energy consumption, with the Presidency proposing an increase to 35% by 2035.

For shipping, this ambition has implications for shore power, port electrification and the renewable electricity required to produce alternative marine fuels. The industry continues to explore green methanol, ammonia, hydrogen and sustainable biofuels. However, their deployment depends on production capacity, infrastructure, costs and appropriate safety arrangements. Green shipping corridors offer a potential mechanism for coordinating investment between shipping companies, ports, fuel producers and governments.

The official COP31 Australian Pavilion program confirms a session organized by the Global Maritime Forum titled Australia and Asia-Pacific Leadership on Green Shipping: Delivering the Maritime Energy Transition, scheduled for 9 November. The discussion will examine how Australia and the wider Asia-Pacific region can support shipping’s energy transition through cleaner fuels, investment opportunities and regional partnerships.

The session also highlights the role of Pacific Island countries in shaping maritime and ocean-climate solutions. For the industry, such cooperation could help bridge the gap between individual pilot projects and commercially viable solutions across international trade routes.

Climate finance and resilient transport infrastructure

Beyond shipping, COP31’s priorities address the transformation of industrial production, logistics and transport networks. Green industrialization, climate-resilient cities and food security all have implications for freight transport, port connectivity and supply-chain resilience.

Finance remains a cross-cutting issue. Through the proposed Climate Implementation Bridge, the Presidency aims to help countries translate climate commitments into practical, investment-ready projects.

For maritime transport, access to finance will remain essential to expanding alternative-fuel production, upgrading port infrastructure and supporting developing economies in the transition. Investment in climate-resilient infrastructure is equally important, particularly for ports and coastal transport networks exposed to rising sea levels, extreme weather and disruption.

What COP31 means for maritime stakeholders

Although COP31’s formal negotiations cover the wider global climate agenda, several developments deserve particular attention from shipping: progress on clean-energy investment, stronger ocean-climate cooperation, green transport corridors, marine pollution prevention and mechanisms to finance the transition.

The conference’s thematic program includes dedicated days for Energy and Transport on 10 November and Ocean, Seas, Nature and Land Use on 17 November, providing further opportunities for maritime-related discussions. Ultimately, the significance of COP31 for maritime transport will depend not only on commitments announced in Antalya but also on whether they translate into infrastructure development, investment and measurable environmental improvements.

For shipping, the challenge is increasingly about connecting decarbonization, ocean health and operational resilience within a common framework for sustainable maritime development.

Source: safety4sea.com