China’s participation and response to IMO legislation on shipping decarbonization: an analysis based on environmental regulatory approaches

In recent years, to align the shipping industry with the temperature goals of the Paris Agreement and address climate change, the International Maritime Organization (IMO), which regulates international shipping, together with regional international organizations and countries responsible for shipping within their respective jurisdictions, has continuously strengthened the governance of shipping decarbonization. As a branch of environmental law, the governance of shipping decarbonization at both the international and domestic level involves multiple stakeholders and various environmental regulatory approaches. This article uses the main classification of environmental regulatory approaches as an analytical framework to examine the interactions between China and the IMO in this area. Specifically, this review addresses the following key aspects: (1) China’s participation in IMO’s legislation as a strong advocate for the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities, as well as in the formation of the Regulations on IMO Net-Zero Framework (NZF), new draft amendments to MARPOL Annex VI, which was not adopted as originally scheduled but represents a milestone in the IMO’s efforts to form a GHG emissions pricing mechanism and to advance shipping decarbonization through the integration of multiple environmental regulatory approaches. (2) China’s domestic governance for shipping decarbonization, which likewise incorporates multiple environmental regulatory approaches in response to the IMO’s work and in pursuit of its ‘dual carbon’ targets. (3) Challenges and opportunities the IMO’s NZF presents for China. (4) Recommendations for strengthening China’s governance of shipping decarbonization to respond to the NZF while further advancing its ‘dual carbon’ target.