Shipping

Unite’s response to the CCC (see above) also says that if the global shipping industry was a nation, its carbon footprint would rank it the sixth worst polluting nation after Germany but before Japan. Over 90% of UK goods arrive by sea. Unite says that although shipping could deploy large power kites that have been shown to cut fuel burn and emissions, just two ships had taken up the technology by 2015. It also calls for less time-critical cargoes to utilise the network of waterways around the UK that are sitting idle.

Maritime union Nautilus International recently welcomed the UK target for zero emissions from commercial vessels from 2025. It called on flag states to show leadership in reducing emissions from commercial shipping and said global action is the most effective way to achieve this ambition.

The Clean Maritime Plan aims for all new ships ordered from 2025 to be designed with zero emission capabilities and includes a £1 million competition to find innovative ways to reduce maritime emissions. The plan was published in July 2019 alongside a call for evidence to reduce emissions on UK waterways and domestic vessels and guidance for ports on developing air quality strategies.