IMO framework on life cycle GHG intensity of marine fuels (LCA)

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Shipping will need new zero or near-zero GHG emission fuels to achieve the levels of ambition of the 2023 IMO Strategy on Reduction of GHG Emissions from Ships. This includes ensuring that zero or near-zero GHG emission technologies, fuels and/or energy sources will represent 5 to 10% of the energy used by international shipping by 2030 and to achieve the 2050 level of ambition – to reach net-zero GHG emissions by or around, i.e. close to, 2050, taking into account different national circumstances. 

To help ensure the pathway to net-zero shipping by 2050 the 2023 IMO GHG Strategy also includes indicative checkpoints aimed at reducing total GHG emissions from international shipping by “20% striving for 30% by 2030”, and “70%, striving for 80% by 2040”, compared to 2008 levels. 

According to projections in the Fourth IMO GHG Study 2020, about 64% of the total amount of CO2 reduction from shipping in 2050 will be achieved using alternative low/zero-carbon fuels.

The life cycle assessment (LCA) methodology

Candidate low-carbon and zero-carbon fuels for shipping have diverse production pathways (for example, different generations of biofuels, hydrogen-based fuels, etc.) entailing significant differences in their overall environmental footprint. 

The effective transition to alternative low- and zero-emission fuels requires the development of a robust international framework to assess the GHG intensity and sustainability of alternative low- and zero-emission fuels in a scientific and holistic manner.

The life cycle assessment (LCA) methodology refers to the assessment of greenhouse gas emissions from the fuel production to the end-use by a ship ("Well-to-Wake"); it results from the combination of a "Well-to-Tank" part (from primary production to carriage of the fuel in a ship's tank, also known as upstream emissions) and a "Tank-to-Wake" (also called "Tank-to Propeller") part (from the ship's fuel tank to the exhaust, also known as downstream emissions).

The 2023 IMO Strategy states that 'the levels of ambition and indicative checkpoints should take into account the well-to-wake GHG emissions of marine fuels as addressed in the Guidelines on lifecycle GHG intensity of marine fuels (LCA guidelines) developed by the Organization with the overall objective of reducing GHG emissions within the boundaries of the energy system of international shipping and preventing a shift of emissions to other sectors'

Development of IMO Guidelines on life cycle GHG intensity of marine fuels (LCA Guidelines)

MEPC 81 adopted the 2024 Guidelines on life cycle GHG intensity of marine fuels (2024 LCA Guidelines) RESOLUTION MEPC.391(81).

  • The scope of the guidelines cover well-to-tank, tank-to-wake and well-to-wake emissions of all possible marine fuels and energy carriers
  • Greenhouse gases covered by the guidelines are carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O)
  • The guidelines identify 10 sustainability themes/aspects supporting the assessment of fuels
  • The guidelines introduce a Fuel Lifecycle Label (FLL), a technical tool to collect and convey the information relevant for the lifecycle assessment
  • LCA Guidelines provide the framework for the determination of default emission factors

  • LCA Guidelines allow the use of actual emission factors, subject to verification and certification by a third party

GESAMP-LCA Working Group


Following a request from MEPC 81, the Joint Group of Experts on the Scientific Aspects of Marine Environmental Protection (GESAMP) has established a Working Group on Life Cycle GHG Intensity of Marine Fuels (GESAMP-LCA Working Group) composed of independent scientific experts providing a scientific and technical assessment of issues related to the implementation of the IMO Guidelines on Life Cycle GHG Intensity of Marine Fuels (LCA Guidelines).

This work will support MEPC's work on further developing the IMO LCA framework.

Ongoing work on the IMO LCA framework

MEPC 81 (April 2024) established two correspondence groups (reporting to MEPC 83 on:

  • measurement and verification of non-CO2 GHG emissions and onboard carbon capture; and
  • further development of the LCA framework (other social and economic sustainability themes/aspects of marine fuels)

MEPC 82 (October 2024) invited Member States to start preparing proposals for default emission factors, in order to allow the GESAMP-LCA Working Group to review these after MEPC 83 and to continue to work together on the development of a sustainable fuels certification framework, including draft guidelines, with a view to submitting a more developed proposal to a future session.

Global Industry Alliance on Low Carbon Shipping

IMO's Global Industry Alliance on Low Carbon Shipping is also working on life cycle GHG assessments. 

More information on the Global Industry Alliance can be found here: https://greenvoyage2050.imo.org/about-the-gia/

The Glossary developed by Global Industry Alliance for understanding Life cycle assessment and sustainability criteria terminology can be found here.

See also the GreenVoyage 2050 training package on alternative fuels and energy carriers for shipping: https://greenvoyage2050.imo.org/workshop-packages/