MEPs vote for emissions reductions in shipping

Today, MEPs have voted for shipping to be included in the European emissions trading scheme (ETS) from 1 January 2022 and shipping companies will be obliged to reduce their CO2 emissions by at least 40% by 2030. Until now, maritime transport has been excluded from the ETS. In addition, the position of rapporteur Jutta Paulus (Greens/EFA), adopted by a large majority of MEPs in the Environment Committee, on amending the regulation on monitoring, reporting and verification of carbon dioxide emissions from shipping ('Review of the Monitoring, Reporting and Verification (MRV) Regulation for shipping emissions') calls on the European Commission to set up a fund for the development of climate-neutral ships and the financing of marine protected areas. 

The final vote in plenary will take place tomorrow on Wednesday, 16 September and the results are expected to be announced at 16:45. 

Jutta Paulus MEP, rapporteur and Greens/EFA Member of the European Parliament's Environment Committee, comments:

"Today's vote is a great success for climate protection. The European Parliament is taking a big step towards climate protection in shipping. The target of 40 percent less CO2 by 2030 means one and a half percent less emissions in the overall EU balance for the same volume of freight.

"We call on EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to set the EU climate target high and apply the polluter-pays principle to maritime transport as well. Maritime shipping must do its part to close the emissions gap. In the medium term, the European Commission must set reduction targets for methane emissions and a zero emissions strategy for European ports."