CO2 output from shipping twice as much as airlines - Guardian

CO2 output from shipping twice as much as airlines


· Maritime emissions not covered by Kyoto accord
· Studies suggest 75% rise in 15 years as trade grows

John Vidal, environment editor
Saturday March 3, 2007
The Guardian

Carbon dioxide emissions from shipping are double those of aviation and increasing
at an alarming rate which will have a serious impact on global warming, according
to research by the industry and European academics.

Separate studies suggest that maritime carbon dioxide emissions are not only higher
than previously thought, but could rise by as much as 75% in the next 15 to 20 years
if world trade continues to grow and no action is taken. The figures from the oil
giant BP, which owns 50 tankers, and researchers at the Institute for Physics and
Atmosphere in Wessling, Germany reveal that annual emissions from shipping range
between 600 and 800m tonnes of carbon dioxide, or up to 5% of the global total.
This is nearly double Britain's total emissions and more than all African countries
combined.

Carbon dioxide emissions from ships do not come under the Kyoto agreement or any
proposed European legislation and few studies have been made of them, even though
they are set to increase.

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The estimate supports other academic studies which, until now, have been dismissed
as "extreme", because the industry fears that emissions regulations will be forced
on it if it is not seen to be addressing the issue. "The International Maritime
Organisation (IMO) needs to come up with an emissions strategy, or it will be down
to us," said Mr Gregory. "Aviation is in the firing line now but shipping needs to
take responsibility. There will be increasing pressure to do something."

-snip-