The newly launched European Maritime Transport Environmental Report 2025 highlights progress made in sustainable maritime transport however challenges nonetheless persist
Based on the report, the sector is making progress in direction of higher sustainability however might want to improve its efforts over the approaching years to play its half in assembly 2030 EU local weather and setting objectives and attaining a local weather impartial EU by 2050.
CO₂ emissions from maritime transport within the EU have risen yearly since 2015 (apart from 2020), reaching 137.5 million tonnes in 2022—8.5% greater than the earlier yr however nonetheless under pre-pandemic ranges.
Methane (CH₄) emissions have a minimum of doubled between 2018 and 2023, accounting for 26% of the transport sector’s whole methane emissions in 2022. That is largely attributed to the elevated use of LNG.
Sulphur Oxide (SOx) emissions within the EU have dropped by about 70% since 2014, largely because of the introduction of SECAs (Sulphur Emission Management Areas) in Northern Europe. The Mediterranean SECA, set to take impact on Could 1, 2025, is anticipated to contribute additional reductions along with the one upcoming in North-East Atlantic Ocean controlling each SOx and NOx.
Nitrogen Oxides (NOx) emissions rose by a mean of 10% between 2015 and 2023, making up 39% of transport-related NOx emissions in 2022.
Maritime transport contributes to water air pollution by oil spills and operational discharges equivalent to gray water, and water discharges from open-loop exhaust gasoline cleansing techniques account for 98% of permitted discharges. Discharge of gray water, pushed largely by cruise ship operations, elevated by 40% between 2014 and 2023.
New pan-European fashions reveal excessive underwater radiated noise (URN) ranges within the English Channel, Strait of Gibraltar, Adriatic Sea, Dardanelles Strait, and Baltic Sea areas. Mitigation measures may cut back URN by as much as 70% between 2030 and 2050.
Marine litter from fisheries (11.2%) and delivery (1.8%) has halved over the previous decade. Nevertheless, challenges persist, notably with plastic pellet air pollution from misplaced containers.
Roughly 27% of Europe’s near-shore seabed (5% dealing with extreme results) is impacted by maritime transport-linked actions equivalent to port expansions, dredging and anchoring which result in bodily disturbances and habitat loss.
Elevated delivery depth brought on a notable rise in collision dangers with animals in Natura 2000 protected areas throughout all marine areas from 2017 to 2022.
The report notes that the usage of various fuels and sources of energy has elevated, though from a low base. Because it at the moment stands, some potential various fuels might want to considerably improve manufacturing to have the ability to meet potential demand. As well as, harmonized worldwide tips should be developed and a provide of seafarers educated on new decarbonization applied sciences.
The EU grew to become the primary jurisdiction to set a carbon worth on greenhouse gasoline emissions from ships with the extension of the EU Emissions Buying and selling System (EU ETS) to maritime transport in 2024. Revenues from the ETS finance the Innovation Fund, one of many world’s largest applications for revolutionary, low-carbon applied sciences, with greater than 300 shipping-related initiatives already supported. On the similar time, the FuelEU Maritime Regulation, efficient from January 2025, is incentivizing low carbon fuels and energy options with GHG depth limits on power used on board by ships.
The report is collectively ready by the European Maritime Security Company and the European Atmosphere Company, with help from the Fee.
