Today, with the vote on shipping emissions in the environment committee, the fight against climate change set an important victory. Thanks to the S&D’s firm commitment, we approved a proposal to include shipping emissions under the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) giving a clear message, both to the Commission and the Council, that we cannot postpone further the inclusion of the shipping sector in the EU’s greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction efforts.
S&D negotiator and coordinator in the environment committee, Jytte Guteland, said:
“Today’s vote sends an important message: we need to create both incentives and regulations to make the EU shipping sector fully decarbonised by 2050 at the latest.
“Global maritime emissions are expected to increase by between 50% and 250% by 2050, which isn’t compatible with the long-term climate neutrality objective.
“We want to include the maritime sector in the EU ETS which can ensure that the necessary emissions reductions are achieved, and for the subsequent pricing of those emissions in line with the ‘polluter pays principle’.
“Maritime transport is also a source of air pollutants. Therefore, the commission should review relevant legislation by June 2021 and make concrete proposals to address the problem of air pollution emissions from the shipping sector.
“An Ocean Fund should finally be established from revenues from the ETS to improve energy efficiency, investment in technologies and infrastructure to decarbonise the maritime transport sector, including the development of sustainable alternative fuels. The fund would also be used to contribute to the protection, restoration and better management of marine ecosystems impacted by global warming.”
