Page 34 - European Energy Innovation - Spring 2017 publication
P. 34
34 Spring 2017 European Energy Innovation
SHIPPING
Greening maritime transport:
what options in an increasingly
climate sceptic world?
By Michele Acciaro average for 3.1% of annual global CO2 efficiency technologies, the fleet renewal
emissions for the period 2007-2012. rate, and international as well as regional
The change in the US International shipping, that excludes regulation, among other factors.
leadership and the domestic shipping, military and fishing
consequent emboldening vessels, accounts on average for 2.6% Those factors are inherently difficult
of climate change sceptics of annual global CO2 emission for the to estimate but it might be worthwhile
can have far-reaching implications same period, while CO2e emissions at least to get a feeling of the order of
on the success of shipping climate- for international shipping, accounting magnitude of these emissions to be
change policy globally. The complexity for methane emissions (CH4) and able to appreciate the challenge ahead.
of regulating a global sector such nitrous oxides (N2O) are estimated at The already cited 3rd IMO GHG report
as shipping has stalled the efforts an average 2.4% of global emissions projects emissions from shipping to rise
to develop a comprehensive policy for the period 2007-2012. It should be between 50% and 250% in the period
for Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emission noted that these estimates are averages to 2050. It is worth noting that the
reductions in maritime transport, and on some years CO2 emissions from International Panel on Climate Change
notwithstanding the clear mandates shipping and international shipping suggested in 2014 the need for a global
to the IMO from the UNFCCC, the reached 3.5% and 2.9% of total yearly CO2e reduction in emissions from
positions taken by IMO secretary emissions respectively. 2010 baseline by 2050 in the range
general Kitack Lim, the discussions of 72% to 41% to be able to maintain
at recent COP22 and pressure from Notwithstanding the uncertainty that global warming below 2˚, and even
environmental groups, individual characterises this type exercises, higher reductions by 2100. Shipping
countries and the European Union. the IMO estimates are considered emission changes are far away from the
reliable by all stakeholders and most required reductions, notwithstanding
Developing sound climate change importantly, by the International the impressive year on year relative
policies for shipping is already so Chamber of Shipping as a reductions that the sector has been able
challenging from a technical and representative body of the global to achieve, admittedly also as a result of
operational point of view, that a shared ship-owning community, which in the world economic downturn following
political vision is essential. As in the multiple occasions has reiterated the the 2008 financial crisis. The level of
case of many policies, also regulating willingness of the shipping world to do emissions from shipping that should be
GHG emissions in shipping raises its fair share to curb GHG emissions. generated by 2050 to meet emission
complex ethical and economic issues, But what this fair share actually is, is a targets similar to the global ones are
and a shared political vision can only subject of heightened debate. One of 5 to 20 times lower than the business
be built on scientific evidence and the main challenges is that estimating as usual scenarios and equivalent to
verifiable facts, as well as an honest the growth of emissions from shipping an approximately sustained 10%-15%
commitment to the wellbeing of in the coming decades depends yearly reduction in total emissions from
humanity. quite dramatically on the growth of shipping.
the volumes of cargo and passengers
The contribution of shipping to climate transported by seagoing vessels, ship Achieving such cutbacks in emission
change is substantial. According to productivity, the uptake of energy levels will be challenging and will
the 3rd IMO GHG Study, published in
2014, CO2 from shipping accounts on
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