EMEA News
Potential Rise in Shipping Emissions to 17% of Global Total is "Simply Unacceptable" says New UK Chamber of Shipping President
A potential rise in shipping emissions to 17 percent or more of the global total by 2050 is "simply unacceptable."
That is the message from Dr. Grahaeme Henderson in a statement marking his election as the UK Chamber of Shipping’s President for 2016-17.
Henderson called the environment "a vital common agenda" and that shipping’s global greenhouse gas emissions "are currently around 3 percent of the global total, but if left unchecked, could rise to 17 percent by 2050, potentially even more given country pledges at COP21."
"There are many variables and scenarios used to make these predictions, but one thing is clear. This is simply unacceptable and we have a responsibility to link arms together to set our own reduction measures, without the need for legislation," he said.
"And we need to start now. This is our environment and society expects us to take action."
Henderson also praised significant progress made by the chamber on a number of issues, and outlined that his term agenda will also include addressing safety in shipping.
Highlighting the changing global context in which the shipping industry finds itself, Henderson added that "the world is changing. Yet again. if we do not change with it, we will quickly lose touch, and those impressive gains of recent years will be lost and our relevance and influence will drop."
Henderson is also Vice President for Shipping and Marine at Royal Dutch Shell plc (Shell) and is said to be responsible for Shell's international shipping and maritime activities, including ships, barges, drilling units, floating production facilities.
Earlier this month, Ship & Bunker reported that the UK Chamber of Shipping has said that supporters of a possible exit by Britain from the European Union (EU), the so-called "Brexit," have yet to adequately address their concerns.
