EU shipping emissions rose in 2025. The ships did not emit more. The reported increase comes entirely from vessels that entered the reporting rules in 2025; follow the same ships through both years and emissions fell. Below the CO₂ line, methane rose sharply as LNG dual fuel ships reached the water, and from 2026 that methane becomes billable, pushing the maritime EU ETS bill toward 100 million allowances. For owners and charterers, the headline MRV number is only the starting point. The exposure sits behind it.
The full storyCollaborating to get shipping to net zero emissions by 2050 seems to be the COP26 shipping chant. The COP26-spotlight has brought stakeholders from the full shipping ecosystem to the table and both governments, finance industry and shipping customers are calling for collaboration and raised decarbonisation ambitions. Now, it remains to be seen if the COP26 wind is strong enough to get the IMO to adjust its sails.
The COP26 has solidified the importance of reaching net zero emissions by 2050 to stay in line with the Paris Climate Agreement Goals. The shipping industry and specifically the IMO’s target of cutting GHG emissions by 50% by 2050 is seen as out of touch amongst the industry, which has come to terms with the need to fully decarbonise the sector by 2050. We take a look at the outcomes of COP26.
Shipping companies efforts to cut their GHG emissions are inadequate and the industry is urged to come up with a set of more ambitious and credible targets in the run up to COP26. We give you a quick guide to what is happening leading up to and at COP26.
