European shipping’s climate record

Using data reported under the monitoring, reporting and verification (MRV) regulation of EU maritime emissions, environmental group Transport & Environment found that container shipping operator, Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC), joined coal power plants in the EU’s top 10 emitters list in 2018. MSC was responsible for about 11 Mt of CO₂ from operations falling under the scope of the EU MRV.

The data also shows that ships sailing to and from Europe emitted more than 139 million tonnes of CO₂ in 2018. If shipping were a country it would be the EU’s eighth biggest emitter after the Netherlands. Despite this, shipping is the only sector with no binding measures to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions in the bloc and still does not pay for its pollution. The sector is exempt under EU law from paying tax on its fuel, an effective subsidy worth €24 billion a year, according to T&E.

Launched on 11 December, the European Commission’s Green Deal commits to bringing shipping emissions under the bloc’s emissions trading system (ETS) to help make the EU carbon neutral. T&E said this was an essential first step to rein in the sector’s climate impact. But additional measures, including a CO₂standard for how much ships can emit while in operation, will also be needed to accelerate energy efficiency technologies and zero-carbon fuels/energy.

Source: T&E News, 9 and 16 December 2019.

The report: https://www.transportenvironment.org/publications/european-shippings-climate-record#overlay-context=publications

In this issue

Air pollution from fossil fuels costs USD 8 billion a day

Emissions from the burning of coal, oil and gas cause 4.5 million premature deaths a year globally, resulting in costs of health care and lives lost equivalent to 3.3 per cent of global GDP.

Editorial: Zero-pollution vision for air quality

A recent Eurobarometer survey asked over 27,000 people from across the EU several questions about air quality.

Cement could be greener, but will it?

Cement production is responsible for some 6–7 per cent of global CO₂ emissions, and is still growing. There are many technical options to cut emissions, but few incentives. The EU cement industry pays zero for its emissions, and does little to improve its act.

Climate tipping points in the boreal forest region

In the southern part of the boreal forest zone, climate change may cause closed forest to be replaced by open woodland or scrubland

Transition to 100 percent renewable energy is cost efficient

Stanford researchers find that a completely renewable energy system will pay for itself in 7 years, while also solving major health and climate threats.

LNG could worsen shipping’s climate impact

Ships fuelled by LNG do not deliver the emissions reductions required by the IMO’s greenhouse gas strategy, says new study.

The Andes Meltdown

The frozen areas covering the peaks and valleys of the Andes are melting at alarming rates, providing some of the most visible evidence that climate change is already here and putting communities and natural ecosystems at risk.

Dutch health gains from reduced air pollution

Air pollution control policies implemented in Europe since 1980 have resulted in better air quality that has increased Dutch average life expectancy by six years.

Renewable energy – technology choices matter for air quality

Growth in EU renewable energy has reduced GHG emissions, and in most cases air pollutant emissions as well. But increased burning of biomass has actually increased emissions of health-damaging PM emissions.

Air quality rules fit for purpose

The EU air quality limit values are enforceable and have been instrumental in driving a downward trend in air pollution exceedances and exposure.

Main menu

European shipping’s climate record

In this issue

Air pollution from fossil fuels costs USD 8 billion a day

Editorial: Zero-pollution vision for air quality

Cement could be greener, but will it?

Climate tipping points in the boreal forest region

Transition to 100 percent renewable energy is cost efficient

LNG could worsen shipping’s climate impact

The Andes Meltdown

Dutch health gains from reduced air pollution

Renewable energy – technology choices matter for air quality

Air quality rules fit for purpose

In Breif

Smooth transition to global ship sulphur regulation

Scrubbers not allowed in California

More bans on open-loop scrubbers

Iceland creates 0.1% SECA

Greek lignite plant cancelled in major NGO court win

Clean air action linked to EU Green Deal

South Korea shuts a quarter of its coal plants over winter

South Korea opts for ship speed reduction and ECA

Threat to shut 14 coal-fired power plants in India

Beyond coal campaign retires 300th US coal plant

World’s largest real-time air quality databank

71% want tougher EU laws on air pollution

Publications

Food for Thought

Northern forests, climate change and the UNFCCC

EU climate targets aligned with the Paris agreement’s 1.5°C objective

Baltic Sea Offshore Wind Collaborative-Learning project

Air pollution in Europe and children’s health

Climate Change: A Himalayan Odessey

No further discussion needed. The agreed global goal is to limit temperature rise to 1.5°C

Fossil-free electricity 2021

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