Page 14 - European Energy Innovation - Spring 2016 publication
P. 14
14 Spring 2016 European Energy Innovation
GREEN SHIPPING
After Paris 2015
How shipping can contribute to
efforts to limit climate change
By Jos Delbeke (pictured), Director-General, DG Climate Action, European Commission
The Paris Agreement adopted The historic Agreement sets out a Such growth would increase the
by world leaders last global action plan to put the world share of shipping in the global total
December marked a critical on track to avoid dangerous climate of CO2 emissions, which today stands
turning point in the fight change by limiting global warming to at 2.5%. Given the need to reduce
against climate change: a move from well below 2°C, and to pursue efforts global emissions in line with the "well
action by few to action by many. to limit the increase to 1.5°C. below 2°C" objective, it therefore
risks undermining the efforts of other
As a universal and legally binding sectors. This clearly underlines the
agreement, it sends a clear signal to need for the shipping industry to
investors, businesses, and policy-makers deliver its fair share contribution to the
that the global transition to clean energy fight against climate change.
is our future and that resources have to
shift away from fossil fuels. Stopping and reversing this alarming
growth in shipping emissions is
The combination of the clear call for possible. According to the second
global action and the "well below IMO greenhouse gas study, there
2°C" goal shows that no part of the is significant untapped potential
economy can be excluded. It is clear, to reduce emissions by up to 75%
therefore, that CO2 emissions from by using existing technologies and
international aviation and maritime operational measures. Many of these
transport should also be addressed as measures can be described as 'low-
a matter of urgency, particularly as they hanging fruits' and would be paid
are expected to increase sharply in the for by the resulting fuel cost savings.
coming years. So taking action on emissions from
shipping does not have to lead to
INCREASING EMISSIONS FROM significantly higher costs.
SHIPPING
Studies suggest that global CO2 IMPORTANT PROGRESS BUT
emissions from international maritime GREATER EFFORTS NEEDED
transport increased by around At global level, the IMO, which started
65% between 1990 and 2010. If its work on greenhouse gas emissions
no further measures are taken, this back in the 1990s, has made some
trend is expected to continue. The important progress. The Energy
third greenhouse gas study by the Efficiency Design Index (EEDI), which
International Maritime Organisation was adopted in 2011 and set CO2
(IMO), the UN body dealing with standards for new ships built after
international maritime transport, 2013 with increasing levels of ambition
predicts a significant increase in the until 2025, was an important step
coming decades. Depending on future forward. It is expected to reduce the
economic and energy developments, sector's greenhouse gas emissions by
emissions are estimated to increase by 20% by 2030 compared to a ‘business
between 50% and 250% by 2050 (see as usual' scenario.
Figure 1).
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