MARITIME TRANSPORT EMISSIONS : INDUSTRY DIVIDED ON PROPOSED MEASURES.

Monitoring of CO2 emissions from ships,aas well as air quality and the fight against climate change are crucial, and in the interests of both the industry and operators, say MEPs, industry representatives, operators and environmental organisations. Generally speaking, they have warmly welcomed the European Commission's proposal from June 2013(1). However, when addressing details of the recommended monitoring, reporting and verification measures (MRVs), significant differences have appeared, as shown by the debate organised at the European Parliament, on 9 January, by the Greens group and the NGO Transport and Environment (T&E). The TRAN and ENVI committees must vote on the matter at the end of January (see Europolitics 4783).

Maritime transport is the only sector that has not been subject to measures for reducing greenhouse gases (GHGs) in the context of the fight against climate change, said Michael Cramer (Greens-EFA, Germany), recalling that the goal fixed for transport in the white paper is to reduce these emissions by 40% - compared with 2005 levels - by 2050. "This cannot wait," said the MEP, regretting that the proposal was limited to data collection.

"This is only the first step," responded Heiko Kunst (DG Climate), emphasising the Commission's desire to limit costs and administrative burdens for operators by proposing four methods based on current tools: bunker fuel delivery notes, or BDN, hold inspections, ratemeters and direct measurement of emissions. This last technology allows for the expansion of...