EU to Add Shipping to Its Carbon Trading Market

Shipping will be included in Europe’s emissions trading system (ETS) and costs for polluters are set to rise under Brussels’ plans to meet the European Union’s climate targets, the European Commission said on Wednesday.

The EU ETS, which forces emitters to pay for each tonne of carbon dioxide they generate, is the keystone of an EU drive to cut net greenhouse gas emissions by 55% from 1990 levels by 2030.

Manufacturers, power firms and airlines operating flights inside Europe are already covered by the scheme but, under plans unveiled by the Commission on Wednesday, shipping would be phased into the ETS over a three-year period.

Emissions from sea voyages within the EU, plus 50% of ships’ emissions from international voyages starting or ending in the EU, would fall under the existing ETS, plus emissions that occur when ships are at berth in EU ports.

Emissions from road transport and from heating systems in buildings would need to comply with a separate ETS from 2026.

To ward off concerns that new levies could drive up costs for households, the Commission proposed that 25% of revenues generated from permit sales in the new ETS would go into a fund to shield low-income households from the carbon costs.

MARITIME LOGISTICS PROFESSIONAL

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