Shipping emissions should be included in UK carbon budgets, says review

03 Nov 2011 - Port Planning, Shipping

• Committee on Climate Change (CCC) recommends inclusion of shipping emissions in country's carbon budgets

• The CCC published its review of UK shipping emissions today

A review by the Committee on Climate Change (CCC) of UK shipping emissions, published today, suggests that the UK’s share of international shipping emissions should be included in climate targets and carbon budgets.

The review also provided the first detailed assessment of the UK’s share of current international shipping emissions, projected emissions up to 2050 and estimates of the abatement potential from shipping.

As it stands, emissions from shipping are not included in carbon budgets or in the UK’s target to reduce emissions in 2050 by 80% below 1990 levels.

The share of international shipping emissions in the UK could amount for up to 11 percent of total emissions permitted under the Climate Change Act by 2050, the CCC said today.

Given that international shipping emissions are likely to be material, and to have implications for approaches in other sectors, the Committee recommends that these should be included now in the 2050 target, and today set out options for its inclusion in carbon budgets.

“It is clear that shipping emissions could well be significant, and so cannot be ignored – they should be included under the Climate Change Act.,” said Chief Executive of the Committee, David Kennedy.

Under the Climate Change Act, however, Parliament must decide by the end of 2012 whether to include emissions from international shipping in carbon budgets.

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