Reducing GHG emissions in Shipping - measures and options

Abstract

CO2 emissions from maritime transport represent around 3% of total anthropogenic CO2 emissions. These emissions are assumed to increase by 50% to 250% up to 2050 in business-as-usual scenarios with a tripling of world trade, while climate target of 1.5° - 2 °C requires 50 – 85 % reductions across all economic sectors. The maritime sector thus faces demanding challenges to reduce its emissions. Previous studies (Buhaug et al 2009; Lindstad, 2013; Bouman et al 2017) have indicated that by combination of design and operational measures based on today’s technologies, emissions can be reduced by 75% up to 2050. This study examines the main reduction measures identified in previous studies and investigates to what degree the measures are implemented and used by the industry. Moreover, we assess how current policies encourage or discourage the implementation of the main reduction measures, and point towards important areas of policy realignment.