EU must act after study shows shipping pollution could increase by half

Shipping’s climate impact has grown 10% in just six years, according to a landmark study [1] released today by the UN maritime agency. Carbon pollution from ships could increase by up to 50% by 2050 if left unchecked, the IMO’s fourth greenhouse gas study finds. Green group Transport & Environment said the EU must now activate its plans to include maritime emissions in its carbon market and introduce CO2 standards for ships while in operation.

The sector’s methane emissions increased by 150% in the last six years because of the increased deployment of liquified natural gas (LNG) ships, the study finds. It also reveals the weakness of the IMO’s 40% carbon intensity reduction target - three-quarters of the targeted improvements had been achieved before the goal was even adopted in 2018.

Faïg Abbasov, T&E’s shipping programme manager, said: “Shipping’s carbon pollution has grown at an alarming rate and could rise by half by 2050 if real action is not taken. Now is the time for the EU to push ahead with its plan for emissions trading for shipping and also quickly adopt the CO2 standards the European Parliament has called for. Standards will drive the uptake of the hydrogen and ammonia that European shipping needs to decarbonise.”

Note to editors:

[1] As an official observer of the IMO, through the Clean Shipping Coalition, T&E was given access to the IMO’s Fourth Greenhouse Gas Study. For more information, contact the IMO.