UK commits to zero emissions shipping by 2050 at the latest

The UK’s shipping sector will be carbon free by 2050 at the latest, according to a new government announcement. On the eve of crucial negotiations at the International Maritime Organization (IMO), T&E welcomes the ambitious targets and calls for concrete UK policy measures including a carbon levy on international shipping emissions and a green fuel mandate.

The new Maritime Decarbonisation Strategy sets out goals to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 30% by 2030, 80% by 2040 and to zero by 2050. But the government is set to still rely on the International Maritime Organisation to tackle 80% of UK shipping emissions. If the IMO fails to agree on sufficient action to meet these targets at talks in April the government cannot continue to put all its eggs in one basket and must forge ahead with UK rules to cut international shipping emissions .

The first thing the UK government should do is include all of the UK’s shipping in the UK’s Emissions Trading System, says T&E. A recent study by the group found that the UK is missing out on €1bn a year by not charging ships for their pollution.

Anna Krajinska, UK director at T&E, said: “These are the kind of ambitious targets the Labour government needs if it wants the UK to become a green energy powerhouse. But it is crucial that ambitious targets are coupled with concrete measures. The UK is lagging behind its European neighbours on cleaning up shipping and it is missing out on millions of pounds a day in the form of carbon levies. It’s time for the Government to take urgent policy action and make the UK a green shipping leader.”

ENDS

Note to editors:

Carbon levy in the form of including all of the UK’s share of shipping emissions in the UK Emission Trading Scheme.