London, 7 April 2025: With the International Maritime Organization (IMO) entering negotiations to finalise greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction measures for international shipping, the SASHA Coalition highlights how ambitious regulations could accelerate EU efforts to achieving its Clean Industrial Deal competitiveness goals in the maritime sector and green hydrogen fuel industry.

Aurelia Leeuw, EU Policy Director at the SASHA Coalition, commented, 

"The measures decided at the IMO this week will not only determine the future of marine fuels but could jumpstart the EU’s Clean Industrial Deal competitiveness goals in maritime and beyond.

LNG and biofuels are neither economically nor environmentally sustainable, while green hydrogen e-fuels present the only credible path to net zero shipping and guarantee its future stability. The EU is already a frontrunner in this burgeoning market, and ambitious regulations could de-risk its e-fuel production, unlocking the investment needed to scale."

Research from the SASHA Coalition has demonstrated that fuels derived from green hydrogen, such as e-ammonia and e-methanol, present the only viable route to meeting the shipping sector’s net-zero goals, including for the EU. Meanwhile, biofuel production at scale would risk decimating Europe’s nature, jeopardising its biodiversity goals.

European maritime e-fuel producers have the capacity to produce enough supply to meet EU 2030 goals in time, but are stymied by EU policy favouring LNG and biofuel, and a lack of demand signals leading to high risk premiums and difficulty accessing investment. Strong IMO regulations could significantly ease these barriers.

Aurelia said,

"To achieve this outcome, and secure a just and equitable transition for all, the EU must push for ambitious IMO regulations: a high-rate levy and robust fuel standards."

ENDS