Shipping emissions
Commission confirms plans to include shipping in the ETS
While aviation and road transport have come under heavy pressure to limit their emissions, shipping has thus far been spared any significant cuts.
But pressure is mounting on all sides, especially because CO2 emissions from shipping are thought to double those of aviation and could rise by as much as 75% in the next 15 to 20 years if world trade continues to grow and no action is taken.
The European Commission now confirmed that it will launch consultations in the autumn on potential legislative proposals to amend the ETS. The efforts to cut emissions globally through the International Maritime Agency (IMO) were not successful, so the EU will go ahead alone.
Shipping is also a major source of other air pollutants, NOx and Sox, which are responsible for acid rain.
