More than 150 leading shipping, finance, energy and logistics companies have called on governments to raise their decarbonisation targets for shipping ahead of the upcoming United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26).
The companies are calling for a "clear and equitable plan" for decarbonisation to be drawn up when the International Maritime Organization revises its targets in 2023.
The group also wants to see the adoption of market-based measures by 2025 and zero-emission ships to be the default choice by 2030.
It said it wants clear decarbonisation targets and incentives for first movers to be established for domestic shipping.
The petition has been made by signatories to the Call to Action petition for shipping decarbonisation, which operates under the Global Maritime Forum's Getting to Zero Coalition.
The grouping includes leading shipping companies AP Moller–Maersk, BW LPG, Cargill Ocean Transportation and Carnival Corp.
It also includes financer Citi, energy companies Engie and BP, and logistics companies the Panama Canal Authority and the Port of Rotterdam.
The IMO is currently targeting a 50% reduction in total shipping greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.
However, the Call to Action petition said this is behind the ambitions of the Paris Agreement on climate change.
"Now is the time to raise our ambitions and align shipping worldwide — a significant carrier of global trade — with the goals of the Paris Agreement," said Jane Fraser, chief executive of Citi.
Henriette Hallberg Thygesen, chief executive of fleet and strategic brands at AP Moller-Maersk, said: "We need market-based measures to close the competitiveness gap between fossil and zero-emission fuels of today and the carbon neutral fuels of tomorrow."
The IMO is planning to consider proposals for the long-term decarbonisation of shipping at its Marine Environment Protection Committee meeting in November.
"Policymakers have a historic opportunity to accelerate this process by introducing a global carbon levy on marine fuels, to drive decarbonisation and incentivise investment in zero-emission fuels and vessels," said Jeremy Weir, chief executive of trader Trafigura.
