The 22nd Intersessional Working Group on the Reduction of GHG emissions from ships (ISWG-GHG 22) was held from the 1st – 4th September 2026. Following the re-opening of the Net-Zero Framework for amendments at the 84th Marine Environment Protection Comittee meeting (MEPC 84), the purpose of this meeting was to begin the consideration on how to address concerns with the MARPOL Annex VI Amendments of the Net-Zero Framework. Although there was a general willingness to work together on the consideration of ways forward, Member State discussions demonstrated continuing divergence on core issues of the design and nature of the final Mid-Term measure. ISWG-GHG 22 ended without any meaningful advancement of the discussion, requesting rather that Member States continue discussions intersessionally on how to address concerns, with a view to submitting proposals to MEPC 85 and ISWG-GHG 23, as appropriate. No final decision was expected at ISWG-GHG 22. Nevertheless, discussions at this session have continued to shape the final outcome of the Framework expected to be deliberated at the second Extraordinary Session of MEPC that will be reconvened in December 2026 following the conclusion of the 85th MEPC meeting. A Chair designed and driven landing zone remains possible if Member States fail to achieve significant convergence on a final outcome.

In this Working Paper we ask if sufficient progress is being made to ensure a high ambition outcome at IMO as we approach shipping’s major decision-making point on GHG reductions for this sector.