European shipping emissions grew 3% last year as the industry edges closer to pre-pandemic levels, a new Transport & Environment (T&E) analysis shows.
According to T&E, the major cargo shipping trend in 2022 was the increased volume of liquified natural gas (LNG) shipments, which grew 58% last year. As Europe ramped up sanctions on Russian oil, Europe’s import push for LNG drove a massive increase in seaborne emissions.
T&E points out that last year, ships visiting European ports emitted nearly 130 million tonnes of CO2. Cargo ships were responsible for the bulk of emissions. MSC, the world’s largest shipping company, was the continent’s biggest carbon emitter, T&E claims.
The NGO highlights that the Swiss-based giant pumped out nearly 10 million tonnes of CO2 last year making it Europe’s 11th biggest polluter. MSC was followed by CMA CGM, Maersk, COSCO and Hapag-Lloyd in the list of shipping emitters, says T&E.
Carbon emissions are at a three year high as shipping companies continue to go all guns blazing. Europe’s shipping giants are up there with coal plants and airlines as the continent’s biggest polluters.
… said Jacob Armstrong, shipping manager at T&E
Cruise ship emissions in 2022 were almost double what they were last year after a year of disruptions to international travel, T&E notes and points out that the the most polluting ship last year was the MSC Grandiosa, which alone was responsible for over 130,000 tonnes of CO2 – the same as a small town.
