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The European Commission’s 2025 Carbon Market Report, issued on 3 December, shows that maritime companies reported 89.8 million tonnes of CO₂ emissions for 2024, the first year the sector was included in the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS). The system now covers all emissions from voyages between EU ports and 50% of emissions from voyages to or from non-EU ports. During the transitional phase, shipping companies were required to surrender allowances for only 40% of their 2024 emissions, rising to 70% for 2025. The Commission highlighted that the process ran smoothly, with over 99% of required allowances submitted by the 30 September 2025 deadline.

In aviation, reported emissions rose by around 15% in 2024 compared to 2023. The Commission attributed roughly half of this increase to ongoing growth in air traffic, while the rest resulted from the inclusion of flights to and from the EU’s outermost regions, newly covered under the ETS in 2024.

These figures reflect the EU’s expanding climate efforts, as the ETS now addresses emissions from both maritime and aviation sectors, reinforcing its role in driving decarbonisation across transport modes. For further details, see the full report.

The full report, also reporting on all GHG emissions covered by ETS 1, including the energy sector, is accessible via this link.

Source: European Commission