EU plans 'at least 40% cut in shipping emissions' - Marine-news.net

Posted March 31, 2011 - Marine-news.net

The European Commission (EC) has committed the EU to a cut of “at least 40%” in shipping emissions but says there needs to be agreement on effective measures at IMO. The EC has adopted a comprehensive strategy -Transport 2050 – for what it describes as “a competitive transport system that will increase mobility, remove major barriers in key areas and fuel growth and employment”. At the same time, the proposals are meant to dramatically reduce Europe’s dependence on imported oil and cut carbon emissions in transport by 60% by 2050.
The EC claims the target of reducing emissions by at least 40% from bunker fuels can be met by “operational measures, technical measures, including new vessel design, and low-carbon fuels”. Given the global nature of shipping, these measures need to be worked on in the international context of the IMO to be effective.
The EC says that its Transport 2050 roadmap to a Single European Transport Area sets out to remove major barriers and bottlenecks in many key areas across the fields of: transport infrastructure and investment, innovation and the internal market. The aim is to create a Single European Transport Area with more competition and a fully integrated transport network which links the different modes and allows for a profound shift in transport patterns for passengers and freight. The roadmap puts forward 40 “concrete initiatives” for the next decade.

Among the targets mentioned are:

For intercity travel: 50% of all medium-distance passenger and freight transport should shift off the roads and onto rail and waterborne transport.
By 2030, 30% of road freight over 300 km should shift to other modes such as rail or waterborne transport, and more than 50% by 2050.
By 2050, connect all core network airports to the rail network, preferably high-speed; ensure that all core seaports are sufficiently connected to the rail freight and, where possible, inland waterway system.
By 2020, establish the framework for a European multimodal transport information, management and payment system, both for passengers and freight.
Move towards full application of “user pays” and “polluter pays” principles and private sector engagement to eliminate distortions, generate revenues and ensure financing for future transport investments.

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