On Friday 7 July, the European Commission and representatives of the European Parliament welcomed the agreement reached within the International Maritime Organization (IMO) on a more ambitious trajectory for reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from maritime transport (see EUROPE 13177/5).
“The revised strategy for 2023 sets the objective of zero net emissions from ships ‘by or around 2050’”, notes the Commission, whereas the current strategy, drawn up in 2018, aimed to reduce emissions from ships by just 50% over the same period.
A trajectory has also been agreed with indicative checkpoints aimed at reducing GHG emissions from ships by at least 20% in 2030 and at least 70% in 2040, compared with 2008 levels.
The Commission says it is ready to enter into dialogue with the EU Member States and the other parties to the IMO to implement a trajectory compatible with the temperature target set in the Paris Agreement.
Clean fuels. In addition, the new strategy agreed at the IMO sets a target of at least 5%, striving towards 10%, for the adoption of zero or near-zero emission technologies, fuels and/or energy sources by 2030.
“This target will help to kick-start the transition by sending a clear signal to the maritime and fuel industries and encouraging the investment decisions and fuel choices required”, says the Commission.
Co-chair of Parliament’s delegation, Inese Vaidere (EPP, Latvian) welcomed this “positive” outcome to the international negotiations, believing that the maritime sector, currently responsible for 3% of global GHG emissions, must play its part in the fight against climate change.
See the IMO agreement: https://aeur.eu/f/7z9 (Original version in Frency by Mathieu Bion)