The Union of Greek Shipowners (UGS) has called for shipping’s decarbonisation targets to be aligned with technological capabilities and global market conditions, while delivering measurable environmental benefits.

In a statement ahead of the 22nd session of the Intersessional Working Group on Reduction of GHG Emissions from Ships (ISWG-GHG 22) and the 85th session of the Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC 85), UGS President Melina Travlos outlined the organisation’s position on the sector’s green transition.

Travlos described the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions as an urgent necessity, pointing to the increasing frequency of extreme weather events. She said the shipping industry recognises its responsibility and remains committed to making a meaningful contribution to the global decarbonisation effort.

According to the UGS president, the sector is investing systematically in vessel energy-efficiency measures and new technologies, contributing to a gradual reduction in the carbon intensity of shipping emissions. However, she cautioned that ambitious targets must remain realistic and be supported by solutions that reflect available technologies and actual market conditions.

Travlos warned that measures which do not meet those criteria could impose additional costs on societies and economies without achieving the intended environmental results.

The UGS reiterated its support for a unified, functional and implementable global regulatory framework developed through the International Maritime Organization. At the same time, Travlos argued that negotiations have exposed significant weaknesses in the proposed IMO Net-Zero Framework and said the industry’s operational perspective should be meaningfully considered when measures are designed.

She maintained that shipping companies will ultimately be responsible for implementing the agreed requirements and that the sector’s active involvement is therefore necessary for a workable transition.

Against this background, Travlos said the proposal submitted by Panama and Liberia offers a balanced and realistic basis for further international negotiations, although she acknowledged that it could still be improved. She highlighted its consideration of the availability and affordability of the fuels needed for decarbonisation, noting that Japan’s proposal also supports the importance of these factors.

The Panama-Liberia proposal also recognises the role of vessel energy efficiency in reducing emissions. Travlos identified this as particularly important while suitable lower-emission fuels remain either unavailable or prohibitively expensive.

The UGS president urged IMO Member States to seek a globally accepted solution combining environmental effectiveness, economic sustainability and social justice. Given shipping’s central role in connecting global trade and supporting the world economy, she said decisions on the industry’s green transition would have broad international consequences.

The organisation’s stated objective is a form of decarbonisation that can be implemented in practice and can secure the international consensus required for a global maritime regime.