50 percent CO2 emission cuts in shipping by 2030, if conditions met

The EPP Group is in favour of cutting shipping emissions by as much as 50 percent by integrating them into the existing EU Emissions Trading System (ETS), if an impact assessment shows that this works.

"Cutting emissions to net zero by 2050 in Europe is ambitious and challenging. This is why each sector needs to contribute, also shipping. The EU ETS is the right instrument for this, but we must do it properly. We want a debate with all the relevant stakeholders and an impact assessment outlining the possible consequences by June 2021. Then we can make our final decision", said Pernille Weiss MEP.

Parliament’s Environment Committee votes today on changes to the data collection system for ship fuel oil consumption. Weiss is negotiating the draft law on behalf of the EPP Group.

Weiss wants the new rules to reward, not punish, the first movers. "Shipping companies that have already heavily invested in reducing their emissions over the last decade must not be penalised. Our goal is to reduce CO2 emissions in shipping by 50 percent by 2030, compared to 2008 levels", said Weiss.

The EPP Group opposes a reduction of 40 percent compared to 2018-2019, as proposed by the Greens. "This would favour the biggest polluters", she added.

Weiss is calling for a dedicated law on shipping under the ETS rather than including it in a law which deals with shipping data collection. "Unlike the Greens, we want to review the ETS Directive properly, have a proper impact assessment and a broad consensus", she emphasised.

International shipping represents around 13 percent of the EU greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from the transport sector. If left undealt with, CO2 maritime emissions could increase by 50-250% by 2050. The European Commission plans to present new rules addressing the emission cuts in shipping by the end of 2020 or the beginning of 2021.