The Net-Zero Framework at sea: How Europe and Africa can steer maritime decarbonisation

At a moment when rising oil prices and continued supply disruptions are raising the stakes of reliance on fossil fuels, decarbonising the global shipping industry is about more than curbing emissions—it is also about strategic diversification as geopolitical and geoeconomic tensions grow.  

The Net-Zero Framework (NZF) presents the strongest maritime decarbonisation proposal, designed to drive switching to low-emission fuels while also ensuring a predictable stream of revenues that can help mitigate the impact of the energy transition on developing countries. Yet the NZF remains under negotiation after a decision on adoption was postponed until December 2026. The negotiation process has evolved from a relatively technical exercise into a geopolitical maelstrom, with major oil producers attempting to wield their might to derail support for the NZF.  

Getting NZF adoption across the line will require more systemic collaboration between Europe, the bulwark of NZF support, and African countries, who could determine the adoption outcome if they voted in concert. Although African countries stand to incur higher trade costs under maritime decarbonisation, they could also be competitive producers of the green fuels needed to power a decarbonising shipping industry. To launch a recent policy brief authored by Sarah Logan “The ammonia age: How Europe and Africa can steer global shipping to net zero“, this panel discussion will explore what this collaboration could look like and what is needed to progress Europe-Africa collaboration on green fuel development and maritime decarbonisation.