Source · Select Committees · Environmental Audit Committee
Recommendation 25
25
Acknowledged
International Tribunal for the Law of the Seas' advisory opinion is authoritative and binding on the UK.
Conclusion
Elements of the International Tribunal for the Law of the Seas’ advisory opinion are authoritative and binding on the UK. (Conclusion, Paragraph 91)
Government Response Summary
The government states it carefully considers the Tribunal’s Opinion and partially agrees with the conclusion, outlining its existing commitments under the Paris Agreement and ongoing actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, including the Maritime Decarbonisation Strategy.
Government Response
Acknowledged
HM Government
Acknowledged
The UK has engaged closely with these Advisory proceedings and carefully considers the Tribunal’s Opinion. Climate change is recognised as one of the defining global challenges we face, and the UK is firmly committed to delivering our commitments under the Paris Agreement and recognises the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) system as the primary intergovernmental negotiating forum for climate action. This Government continues to lead internationally, with an ambitious target to reduce all greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by at least 81% by 2035 (excluding international aviation and shipping). The UK also championed the landmark agreement reached at the International Maritime Organisation’s (IMO) 83rd Marine Environment Protection Committee meeting in April 2025, that will reduce global shipping emissions, and continues to press for its adoption in October. International leadership starts with strong domestic action. Recent steps include lifting the onshore wind ban, approving major solar projects, launching the Great British Energy and the Clean Power Action Plan, and initiating a new carbon capture, usage and storage (CCUS) industry in Britain. The Maritime Decarbonisation Strategy, published in March 2025, sets goals to reduce the UK domestic maritime sector’s life fuel life-cycle GHG emissions by 2050, with interim goals for 2030 and 2040. Key measures include fuel regulation, expanding the UK Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) to maritime from 2026, and exploring measures to reduce emissions at berth and from smaller vessels. The UK is also addressing evidence gaps to include coastal wetlands in the GHG inventory, working through the UK Blue Carbon Evidence Partnership. Internationally, the UK leads the Global Ocean Alliance and supports developing nations through the Blue Planet Fund. The Government therefore partially agrees with this recommendation.