Open Letter: Request for clarification on the treatment of specific fuels under the IMO Net-Zero Framework
On 27 October 2026, civil society organisations wrote to IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez. They asked for confirmation that decisions on how specific fuels are treated under the Net-Zero Framework rest with member states, informed by independent science. The letter follows the Secretary-General’s remarks on LNG at the Global Maritime Forum Annual Summit in Shanghai on ...
On 27 October 2026, a group of civil society organisations addressed a letter to IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez, seeking clarification on the treatment of specific fuels under the Net-Zero Framework. This letter came in response to the Secretary-General's remarks on liquefied natural gas (LNG) at the Global Maritime Forum Annual Summit in Shanghai on 21 October 2026, as reported by TradeWinds under the headline "IMO chief makes case for LNG."
The negotiations on the IMO's Net-Zero Framework are set to resume on 23 November 2026. One of the key issues under discussion is how individual fuels are treated through the framework's reward mechanism and lifecycle assessment (LCA) guidelines. Recent studies have shown that the measured methane slip for the most common LNG marine engine type averages 6.4% of fuel, nearly double the 3.5% margin that IMO assumes (ICCT, FUMES, 2024).
Moreover, a 2020 ICCT report concluded that LNG provides no climate benefit over its 20-year lifespan, regardless of engine technology.
The signatories to the letter are seeking confirmation from the Secretary-General that his remarks did not imply any predetermined outcome for specific fuels, including LNG and biofuels. They also request that he publicly restate that fuel treatment decisions will be made by member states, guided by independent, science-based LCA guidelines.
Additionally, the signatories ask that all delegations be granted equal access to information and the process, including any Secretariat technical briefings on fuels. Lastly, they urge the discussion to be anchored in the 2023 IMO Strategy, which aims for at least 5% emission reduction by 2030, with a target of 10% or zero/near-zero emission energy.
The Executive Office of the Secretary-General acknowledged receipt of the letter on 28 October 2026 and stated that they had no further comments at this stage. The signatories to the letter include various civil society organisations such as the Clean Shipping Coalition, Green Global Future, Maritime Beyond Methane (MARBEM), and others.
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