Monitoring of shipping’s CO2 emissions proposed

In late June, the European Commission published a proposal to monitor, report and verify (MRV) emissions to air from international shipping. The measure will apply to all large ships calling at EU ports and could be used to set the baseline for measures to actually require emission reductions.

Shipping is responsible for three per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions (4 per cent in Europe) – emissions that are expected to continue to increase if no action is taken to curb them. According to the Commission, its proposed European monitoring system would reduce shipping CO₂ emissions by up to two per cent, but environmental group T&E said they found no scientific evidence to back this claim.

T&E shipping officer Antoine Kedzierski said: “The proposal doesn’t do anything to incentivise those monitoring and verification systems that are better, so owners will in all likelihood use the cheapest, most basic way, which in reality is business as usual.”

Environmental NGOs are also critical of the proposal’s failure to include other harmful emissions from shipping, notably nitrogen oxides (NOx) and sulphur dioxide (SO₂).

Source: T&E, 28 June and 16 July 2013.

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Monitoring of shipping’s CO2 emissions proposed

In this issue

Warming can be limited to 1.5°C

Editorial: Last warnings?

Shale gas has lost its lustre

EU energy tax reform stalled

Need for stronger EU action on air pollution

Sea levels might rise 2 metres for each degree of warming

Agreement on equity issues essential

Shipping air pollution costs €60 billion per year

Ship emissions down in the Baltic and North Sea

Air pollution causes 210,000 deaths each year

Fewer congestion charge exemptions

Germany blocks CO2 deal for cars

High potential to further cut pollution from power plants

New tool raises awareness of air pollution impact

7th Environment Action Programme agreed

Coal power must be replaced with green energy

More food, less climate change

New CAP deal: “little more than greenwash”

400 ppm exceeded at Mauna Loa

Where are air pollution science and policy heading?

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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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