Simon Bullock, James Mason & Alice Larkin (2021) reveal in their recent publication "The urgent case for stronger climate targets for international shipping, in Climate Policy, that if the shipping sector is to play a part in meeting the Paris Agreement Goals, the IMO must strengthen its targets.

Excerpts from the abstract : The article re-assesses the international shipping sector’s initial greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets against the Paris Agreement goals. The analysis is based upon the latest data from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and International Maritime Organization (IMO) and uses the concept of carbon budgets to evaluate proportionate 1.5°C emissions pathways for the sector. The consequences of the resulting Paris-compliant pathways for shipping’s existing mitigation targets and strategy are discussed. The article concludes that significantly stronger short- and longer-term targets need to be set for the sector to be compatible with the Paris Agreement’s goals: 34% reductions on 2008 emissions levels by 2030, and zero emissions before 2050, compared with the sector’s existing target of a 50% cut in CO₂ by 2050. Crucially, strengthening the target by the IMO’s strategy revision date of 2023 is imperative. The long asset lifetimes of ships and shipping infrastructure limit the speed of transition such that a delay of even a few years will dictate an untenable rate of decarbonization and increased risk of pushing the already challenging Paris goals out of reach...read here.

Posted on - 2021-11-03

Posted on - 2021-10-05

Pathways to Sustainable Shipping

The American Bureau of Shipping developed the second in a series of "Outlook" documents — the first was published in June 2019 — to reference available carbon-reduction strategies and inform the shipping industry as it enters the uncharted waters of the 2030/2050 emissions challenge. This document examines how the development of global trade will impact global emissions. Furthermore, it identifies the three main fuel pathways on the course to meeting the IMO’s emission reduction targets for 2050 and beyond: light gas fuels, heavy gas fuels and bio/synthetic fuels. It also examines the possible capacity demand and related emissions output trends on a global basis to envision the environments in which those targets may need to be achieved. This information is offered solely to help provide industry stakeholders with the information they need to make informed decisions. The nearest challenges will require them to make choices between new fuels, energy sources and emissions control systems. It is offered as a tool to help shipowners understand the complexity of the task ahead and to move forward effectively as they assess their options for a transition to low-carbon operations, and further to the zero-carbon future of shipping.  Click here to view document

Posted on - 2021-08-31