China officially unveiled the 2026 edition of the Global Sustainable Transport Certification (GSTC) system at the 2026 North Bund International Shipping Forum, marking a further step towards establishing internationally recognised standards for green marine fuels.

Led by the Global Sustainable Transport Innovation and Knowledge Center (GSTIKC), an institution affiliated with China's Ministry of Transport, the certification framework aims to provide credible verification of marine fuel sustainability, greenhouse gas emissions reductions and supply chain traceability.

The GSTC system covers alternative marine fuels including green methanol, green ammonia, bio-LNG and ethanol. It assesses sustainability across the fuel lifecycle, from feedstock sourcing and production to transportation, storage and bunkering, with particular emphasis on greenhouse gas emissions accounting and independent third-party verification.

The framework is supported by a structured set of documents covering governance, technical standards, certification procedures and implementation guidelines, designed to ensure consistent and transparent assessments.

The system has already been piloted in several major projects, including China Energy Engineering Group's green hydrogen, ammonia and methanol project in Songyuan, Jilin Province; The Hong Kong and China Gas Company's green methanol project in Inner Mongolia; and green methanol production, logistics and bunkering operations in Shanghai.

GSTIKC plans to further align the framework with relevant International Maritime Organization (IMO) and European Union regulatory requirements, with the aim of improving its international applicability and supporting wider commercial adoption of certified low-carbon marine fuels.