The Republic of Liberia has renewed its call for a fair, practical and equitable approach to decarbonising international shipping. Liberia says the transition to net-zero emissions should not place disproportionate economic costs on developing countries.
Liberia presented its proposed alternative approach to the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) Net-Zero Framework during a high-level engagement with UN Member States. The proposal reflects Liberia’s continued efforts to support the goals of the 2023 IMO Strategy on the Reduction of Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Ships while taking into account the economic realities facing developing countries.
Liberia supports urgent action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from international shipping. As a major flag state and a climate-vulnerable developing country with strong economic ties to the sea, Liberia says climate action should not come at the expense of developing-country economies.
Liberia is calling for a transition that is practical, affordable, scalable, performance-based and legally consistent with the IMO’s mandate. The country also wants the IMO to consider how decarbonisation measures could affect developing countries that rely heavily on maritime trade for essential goods.
International shipping plays a key role in transporting food, fuel, medicines, machinery, construction materials and other essential goods.
Liberia warns that higher maritime transport costs could affect food security, energy security, inflation, trade competitiveness and sustainable development. It therefore wants the economic impact of decarbonisation to receive the same attention as environmental goals.
Liberia also supports country-specific economic impact assessments. It notes that developing countries differ in their economies, trade patterns, infrastructure, technology, access to finance and dependence on maritime transport.
The country argues that a global assessment should therefore be supported by assessments that reflect the specific circumstances and vulnerabilities of individual developing countries.
Liberia’s proposed approach aims to support the IMO’s climate goals while limiting the economic disruption that could come with the transition.
The proposal focuses on commercially viable alternative fuels, improved operational efficiency, new technologies, infrastructure development and capacity-building.
Liberia also wants support mechanisms for developing countries to be predictable, transparent and equitable. It argues that developing countries should not have to absorb significant economic and trade costs first and wait for support to address the impact later.
Instead, Liberia believes the framework should consider these economic impacts from the beginning and work to limit disproportionate costs.
Liberia is also calling for evidence-based decisions before the IMO introduces measures that could have significant economic effects.
The country says policymakers should consider the technical reliability, legal basis, administrative requirements, affordability, availability and scalability of proposed measures and alternative fuels across different regions, ports and shipping routes.
Liberia says these factors will help create a framework that IMO Member States can implement effectively and support with confidence.
Liberia says it is not seeking to reduce global climate ambition. Instead, it wants climate action to support sustainable development without placing unfair economic pressure on developing countries.
The country maintains that the IMO needs the meaningful participation of all its member states, including developed and developing countries, flag states and coastal states.
Liberia will therefore continue to support a Net-Zero Framework that sets ambitious environmental goals while ensuring that implementation remains practical, affordable and equitable.
Liberia’s position is that net zero should not create a new burden for developing countries. Instead, the transition should support investment, innovation, technology transfer, infrastructure development and capacity-building while protecting trade, food security and sustainable development.
Liberia says it will continue working with IMO Member States and other stakeholders to develop a maritime decarbonisation framework that addresses climate change while taking the needs of developing countries into account.
The IMO and its Member States are expected to continue discussions on the Net-Zero Framework at the next session of the Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC), scheduled for November 2026.
Liberia is expected to remain involved in the discussions and consultations ahead of and during the MEPC session, where it will continue to advocate for an approach that combines environmental goals with economic considerations and equity.
source: LIMA
