Study for T&E Finds Shipping Emission Growth Could Counter European Reduction Efforts

by Ship & Bunker News Team
Wednesday December 7, 2016

A new study conducted by CE Delft for Transport & Environment (T&E) suggests that growth in shipping and aviation emissions will cancel out 43 percent of the savings expected to be achieved by Europe's other transport sectors to 2030.

"Planes and ships are free riding at the expense of land transport's already insufficient efforts to cut emissions," said Bill Hemmings, aviation and shipping director at T&E.

"This is not only unfair but a roadblock to Europe meeting its own climate commitments. Governments need to think again and include shipping in the emissions trading system and strengthen its aviation provisions."

The study says that Europe's land transport, under current initiatives, is expected to consume 43 million tonnes of oil equivalent (Mtoe) less energy annually in 2030, compared to 2010 levels, yet still under half of will be required under the EU's proposed 2030 Effort Sharing Regulation.

Meanwhile, ships and planes in Europe will consume 19 Mtoe more in fuel per year 2030, compared to 2010, meaning growth in these two sectors will cancel out nearly half of the reduction progress achieved by land transport segments.

"Shipping, one of the fastest growing sources of transport emissions, is projected to account for 17 percent of global emissions by 2050. Yet the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) has decided to delay by at least seven years any agreement on introducing a global measure to reduce GHGs from the sector with the actual implementation date possibly many years further away," said T&E.

In November, Ship & Bunker reported that environmental groups T&E, Seas at Risk (SAR), and three MEPs - all senior members of the European Parliament's (EP's) environment committee - called for shipping emissions be included in the EU's 2030 emissions reduction target through a Maritime Climate Fund.