EU Parliament courting disaster by undermining IMO

THE European Parliament could vote early in the New Year to include shipping in the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS) from 2023. Such a move would be disaster.

The Parliament's Environment Committee (ENVI) last week adopted a report on the revision of the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS). Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) agreed on a compromise text for shipping, which is intended to put pressure on the International Maritime Organization (IMO) to have a system comparable to ETS operating for global shipping from 2021. If that does not happen, then shipping would be included in the European ETS from 2023. Part of the revenues generated from ETS would be channelled through a Maritime Climate Fund to improve energy efficiency and invest in innovative technologies for ports and short sea shipping.

The European Community Shipowners' Associations' (ECSA) secretary general Patrick Verhoeven commented: "The report ignores and undermines the roadmap that was agreed at IMO end of October. We find this very disappointing, but it does not change our resolve to make the IMO roadmap a success. We agree that the shipping sector must further reduce its CO2 emissions with a comparable level of ambition as the rest of the world economy to contribute its fair and proportionate share in meeting the Paris climate target. But this can only happen effectively in a global context. Threatening with regional measures under unrealistic deadlines is a very counterproductive move."