Status: 03/23/2023 11:59 am
The EU wants to gradually reduce CO2 emissions from shipping by the middle of the century. Emissions are to be reduced by 80 percent by 2050. In addition, e-fuels are to be used more frequently.
Large ships in the EU must reduce their greenhouse gas emissions by 80 percent by 2050. Negotiators from the EU states and the European Parliament agreed on this, as the EU Parliament announced today. Ships from a size of 5000 gross register tons are affected by the new regulations. According to the EU Parliament, these are responsible for the majority of CO2 emissions in maritime shipping.
More e-fuels in shipping
The negotiators of the EU states and the EU Parliament specifically agreed that CO2 emissions should be reduced by 14.5 percent by 2035, by 31 percent by 2040 and by 62 percent by 2045. According to Parliament, the reduction targets apply to energy consumed in or between EU ports.
If the port of departure or arrival is outside the EU, the reduction targets apply to 50 percent. In addition, from 2034 at least two percent renewable fuels should be used. If e-fuels are made with renewable electricity, these artificial fuels can be carbon neutral.
Lots of exceptions
One of the points of contention was the numerous exemptions. The Greens MP Rasmus Andresen, who was involved in the negotiations, criticized: “Due to very far-reaching exceptions, for example for island traffic and smaller ships, the agreed loopholes are too big.” For example, ships heading for small islands and areas that are economically highly dependent on their connection are exempt from the new regulations.