On 12 December, the European Commission will present the European Green Deal as part of its plan to be the first climate neutral continent by 2050, announced the European Commission’s recently-elected President, Ursula von der Leyen, on the sidelines of COP 25 underway in Madrid.
Last week, the European Political Strategy Centre (EPSC) published a strategic note for Clean Transport at Sea, describing the course for European Leadership, including the confirmation of the European Commission’s President, Ursula von der Leyen’s ambition to add maritime transport into the EU’s Emission Trading System.
The appointment of Ursula von der Leyen as the new European Commission President has made headlines this week, as she won with a strong call for environmental action that could transform Europe over the next five years. The new climate policy foresees inclusion of the maritime sector in the EU ETS, following years of contradictory negotiations.
The EU confirmed that it will include shipping in its emissions trading system if the International Maritime Organisation does not deliver effective global measures to reduce shipping emissions by 2023.
The German Shipowners’ Association released a statement, in which it welcomes the commitment of the EU Member States to the global climate protection strategy of the IMO.
“The IMO is currently busy drawing up its strategy for reducing CO2 emissions from the international shipping. IMO is the organisation to regulate our global industry.” commented Martin Dorsman, ECSA’s Secretary General.
The European Parliament and the EU Member States have reached an agreement regarding the EU’s Emissions Trading System. According to this agreement, shipping will be excluded and IMO will have the responsibility, Danish Shipping notes.
Following long discussions and negotiations, the EU yesterday concluded with a decision to revise the EU ETS after 2020, giving time to the shipping industry to realize its initial CO2 reduction objectives by 2018, according to IMO’s Roadmap.
The European Parliament and the EU Member States still have not reached an agreement regarding the EU’s Emissions Trading System. European shipping is therefore still in danger of being subject to one-side EU regulation rather than supporting the global process, Danish Shipping suggests.
Following the decision of the United States to withdraw from the Paris Climate Agreement, the European Community Shipowners’ Associations and the International Chamber of Shipping encourage the intention of the European Union and the People’s Republic of China to intensify cooperation in achieving a global climate deal for shipping.
