The implications and challenges of the IMO 2020 regulation: Exploring options for compliance.

The International Maritime Organisation (IMO), as a part of its continuing efforts to regulate sulphur oxide emissions, adopted the IMO 2020 Regulation. The regulation established a new worldwide cap on the sulphur content of shipping fuel. This article critically analyses the key provisions of the IMO's latest regulation by examining the economic consequences of the regulation and its impact on the shipping industry, petroleum markets and refineries. This article highlights the challenges that State parties face in enforcing the regulation and the repercussions for non‐compliance. The key findings of this article reveal that since the enforcement of the IMO 2020 Regulation, sulphur emissions have decreased by approximately 8.5 to 8.9 million metric tons. By 2025, this reduction is expected to reach around 77% of pre‐regulation levels. Coastal settlements, particularly highly populated areas, are expected to benefit from the reduction in sulphur concentration levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]