Shipping emissions – the final EU climate frontier

This briefing details how shipping emissions have increased by approximately 70% since 1990 and the EU’s track record on cutting these emissions. Under current policies, the IMO’s GHG study forecasts shipping CO₂ emissions to increase by 50% to 250% by 2050, which would then represent between 6% to 14% of total global emissions. While emissions from other sectors have started declining or are looking to peak in 2020, none of the “business as usual” scenarios for shipping foresee a decline in shipping emissions before 2050. The EU has promised measures for shipping emissions three times since 2009 and the Commission’s communication on Energy Union made it clear that all sources of emissions should contribute to the EU 2030 reduction target.