# Governance at the International Maritime Organisation URL: https://www.transparency.org/en/publications/governance-international-maritime-organisation Type: Publication or report Published: 2018-07-02 Updated: 2020-05-14 --- 02 July 2018 The International Maritime Organisation (IMO), the UN’s specialised agency for shipping, aims to create “a regulatory framework for the shipping industry that is fair, effective, universally adopted and implemented.” Currently, shipping contributes an estimated 2.5 per cent of global emissions, but left unchecked this could grow to 17 per cent by 2050. A failure to dramatically reduce the sector’s GHG emissions will jeopardise the pledges signed by 195 states in the UN Paris Agreement, which aims to limit planetary warming to “well below” 2°C, and ideally to no more than 1.5°C. This report evaluates the IMO’s governance structure and considers whether it will help or hinder the development of policies, including an effective GHG strategy. Transparency International finds a number of critical governance flaws at the IMO. Four key issues emerge from the assessment: the uneven influence of Member States, the influence of open and private registries, the disproportionate influence of industry, and the lack of delegate accountability. ### Related publications ## [Regional Assessment of Integrity in Political Finance in South Asia, Southeast Asia and East Asia](https://www.transparency.org/en/publications/integrity-political-finance-asia) Publication • 03 September 2026 This report reviews systems across 17 countries to identify the areas of political finance most in need of reform. ## [Annual Report 2025](https://www.transparency.org/en/publications/annual-report-2025) Publication • 17 July 2026 In 2025, Transparency International pursued its mission to stop corruption and promote transparency, accountability and integrity at all levels and across all sectors of society. ## [Connecting the Dots: How financial intelligence units expose corrupt money flows and how they could do more](https://www.transparency.org/en/publications/connecting-the-dots) Publication • 24 June 2026 Financial intelligence units can play a key role in uncovering corruption, but only if they have the powers, resources and access to information they need. ## [Whistleblowing Authorities in Europe: Roles, challenges and lessons learned](https://www.transparency.org/en/publications/whistleblowing-authorities-in-europe-roles-challenges-and-lessons-learned) Publication • 19 June 2026 This report examines the institutional design, mandates and functioning of national whistleblowing authorities across Europe. ## Priorities - [Climate crisis](https://www.transparency.org/en/our-priorities/climate-crisis) ## Projects - [Climate Governance Integrity Programme](https://www.transparency.org/en/projects/climate-governance-integrity-programme) ![](https://images.transparencycdn.org/images/Screen-Shot-2020-05-14-at-11.08.33.png?auto=compress&fit=crop&fm=webp&w=1200) [Download](https://images.transparencycdn.org/images/2018_Report_GovernanceatIMO_English.pdf)