Maritime transport: Reducing polluting emissions: EU might act alone - Europolitics

Posted - By Ines de Lalande | Thursday 23 June 2011 - Europolitics

If an agreement on reducing emissions from shipping cannot be reached by the end of 2011 in the International Maritime Organization (IMO), the European Union might decide to take unilateral action, as it did for aviation. This was hinted by Marc Major, speaking on behalf of the European Commission, on 21 June, in a debate in Brussels on this subject sponsored by Edelman The Centre. The industrial sectors concerned disagree on this option.
Thirteen years on from Kyoto, neither the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) nor the IMO has succeeded in agreeing on market-based emissions reduction measures. In the absence of such agreement, the EU decided, in 2008, to include aviation in its Emission Trading Scheme (ETS), a decision applicable from 1 January 2012 (1). It could do the same to force the shipping sector to contribute to emissions reduction efforts. An agreement in the IMO on reducing emissions from maritime transport seems unlikely by the end of the year, particularly with respect to levying an international tax, the instrument preferred by members of the European Community Shipowners' Association (ECSA). What is more, notes the European Commission, the technical and operational measures taken by these sectors to reduce their ecological footprint are not enough, since experts foresee a rapid increase in their emissions in a few years.
The industry takes the view that, despite the IMO's problems, international measures would be more advantageous than regional measures. The Commission maintains, however, that measures taken at EU level could set an example for the rest of the world. There is nothing to prevent decisions at European level in parallel with the international discussions, because early action is needed to prevent future costs.
The Commission nevertheless made it clear that it does not yet have an official position on including shipping in the ETS and that consultations are continuing with all stakeholders.

Story at:
http://www.europolitics.info/sectorial-policies/reducing-polluting-emissions-eu-might-act-alone-art307842-46.html