| Year | Plan | Description |
| 2018 | IMO adopts initial strategy to reduce GHG emissions | Sets a series of GHG emissions reduction milestones through 2050 |
| 2020 | Low-sulfur fuel mandate | Reduces the limit for sulfur content of fuel oil used in ships to 0.5 percent from 3.5 percent, effective Jan 1, 2020 |
| 2023 | Short-term decarbonization deadline | Requires finalized short-term measures to reduce CO2 emissions by 2030 |
| 2030 | Mid-term decarbonization deadline | Mandates an average 40 percent reduction in CO2 emissions per transport work by 2030 compared with 2008 levels |
| 2050 | Long-term annual GHG reduction deadline | Required a 50 percent reduction in total annual GHG emissions by 2050 and encourages efforts to phase out GHG emissions completely |