Shipping Industry Urges IMO to Reject Biofuels Amid Climate Concerns

Environmental groups and industry leaders are urging the International Maritime Organization (IMO) to reject the use of biofuels as a low-carbon solution for shipping, citing concerns over deforestation, land grabbing, and worsening climate change. In an open letter to the IMO, organizations like Biofuelwatch and the Global Forest Coalition warned that increasing biofuel production, particularly from palm and soy, could lead to significant environmental harm. Shipping companies, including Hapag-Lloyd AG, echoed these concerns, stating that without strict safeguards, the shift to biofuels could replace fossil fuels with more environmentally damaging alternatives. Estimates suggest that nearly a third of global shipping could rely on biofuels by 2030, raising alarms about their sustainability. The IMO is currently working towards a zero-carbon-emissions target for the industry by 2050, with discussions on new regulations scheduled to take place soon. Critics assert that without careful management, biofuels could exacerbate rather than mitigate the climate crisis.