The Danish Shipowners Association (DSA) says a vote by the European Parliament Environment Committee to include shipping in the EU Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) by 2023 risks derailing the IMO on limiting CO2 emissions
The EU Environment Committee took the opposite view from the Industry Committee a month ago.
The Environment Committee voted that if there is no global agreement under IMO for operation by 2021, shipping and maritime should be included in the ETS from 2023.
With a spilt European Parliament DSA said that member states would now play a key role in ensuring shipping is not included in the final legislation expected to be adopted in the second quarter of 2017.
MEP Bendt Bendtsen from the Denmark’s Christian-Democratic group, EPP, and member of the Industry Committee said, “By calling for an ETS for shipping in case no international system operates by 2021, my colleagues have unfortunately chosen to cave in to regionalism and ignore the long-term impact for European growth and the environment.
“With only a small part of global shipping touching EU ports, ETS will miss the intended climate target and runs the risk of derailing the IMO process.”
Bendtsen also warned it could result in jobs losses in Europe. “I can only say that the Industry Committee stands firmly behind its call for shipping to be addressed internationally, otherwise it may well lead to cargo being transshipped outside of Europe with direct impacts on European employment.”
Copyright Ships & Ports Ltd. Permission to use quotations from this article is granted subject to appropriate credit given to www.shipsandports.com.ng as the source.