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THE need to address the issue of climate change has become a matter of priority, and players in the shipping industry must stand up and be counted to play their part to reduce carbon emissions.
Being a crucial facilitator of trade and at the forefront of activities such as offshore oil and gas exploration and production, expectation is high for the shipping industry to be pro-active in adopting green practices.
One way or another, industry players must prepare themselves for a lower-carbon future, looming in the horizon.
There is growing pressure for transport operators, including in shipping, to take serious actions to mitigate the risks of climate change.
The failure of the United Nations Conference of Parties on Climate Change (COP 15) held in Copenhagen in December 2009 to advance the agenda is a wake-up call for industries, including the transport sector, to act quickly to reverse the adverse impacts of climate change on the environment.
A report published by Lloyd’s List in December 2009 stated that despite contributing a mere 3.3% of the global total carbon emissions from economic activities, emissions from shipping were estimated to have doubled since 1990.
The report projected that this percentage would grow by a factor of two to three by 2050 from 2007’s levels should there be no regulatory measures taken to lower the emissions from shipping.
This should make industry players aware of the dire prospect, and not become complacent by the fact that shipping contributed only a small percentage to the total global carbon emissions.
Complete Story at:
http://thestar.com.my/maritime/story.asp?file=/2011/3/14/maritime/8244882&sec=maritime
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