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The European Environment Agency (EEA) and the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) issued on 1 September the first European Maritime Transport Environmental Report. The report provides a factual analysis of the environmental pressures exerted by the maritime transport sector, presents up-to-date information on the relevant EU and international environmental standards and describes current and future actions to reduce the sector's impact on the environment.

The report shows that ships produce 13.5 % of all greenhouse gas emissions from transport in the EU, behind emissions from road transport (71 %) and aviation (14.4 %). Sulphur dioxide (SO2) emissions from ships calling in European ports amounted to approximately 1.63 million tonnes in 2019, a figure which is expected to fall further over the coming decades due to stricter environmental rules and measures.

The joint report assesses the current state of emerging maritime transport sustainability solutions, including alternative fuels (LNG, hydrogen, ammonia…), batteries and onshore power supply, and provides a comprehensive picture of their uptake in the EU. Already, most ships calling in the EU have reduced their speed by up to 20 % compared to 2008, thereby also reducing emissions. The report also outlines future challenges posed by climate change for the industry, including the potential impact of rising sea levels on ports.

Source: European Environment Agency