Shipping Emissions Increase 4.9% Last Year

590

  • The tough task to decarbonise global shipping has been put into sharp relief with data released.
  • The key driver was the recovering 2021 world economy where demand for durable goods has remained firm while services demand has increased.
  • SSY estimates that approximately 75% of the tanker and bulker fleets will not comply with the EEXI 2023 requirements without remedial action.

The tough task to decarbonise global shipping has been put into sharp relief with data released this week from UK broker Simpson Spence Young (SSY)…, says an article published on their website. 

Data released from UK broker SSY

The tough task to decarbonise global shipping has been put into sharp relief with data released this week from UK broker Simpson Spence Young (SSY) showing the industry’s 2021 CO2 emissions increased 4.9% from 2020, not only rebounding from the 2020 Covid lows but also surpassing 2019 levels.

Explaining the increase, SSY analysts noted in a markets update: “The key driver was the recovering 2021 world economy where demand for durable goods has remained firm while services demand has increased. Added to this is a trend towards longer ton-mile trade, higher steaming speeds in some segments, and increased port congestion.”

Inconvenient truth for the IMO

In terms of sectors that saw the biggest increases last year, liquid gas stands out with added capacity, strong demand and longer ton-mile trade all pushing emissions higher. 

Container and bulker emissions also continued to increase on solid demand, but also with what SSY described as a “potent combination” of faster steaming speeds, longer trade routes and port congestion raising emissions.

“The increase in 2021 shipping emissions represents an inconvenient truth for the IMO, particularly following the ‘keep 1.5 alive’ commitments emerging from COP26,“ SSY noted. “As the EU Commission noted during the launch of their #FitFor55 package, while the IMO actions are welcome the ‘measures are insufficient to decarbonise international shipping in line with international climate objectives’.”

SSY argues that the IMO’s medium term strategy to lower the energy- and carbon-intensity of global shipping will not meaningfully reduce CO2 emissions. SSY estimates that approximately 75% of the tanker and bulker fleets will not comply with the EEXI 2023 requirements without remedial action.

The hike in emissions last year was covered in a recent issue of sister title Splash Extra with Dr Tristan Smith from UCL Energy Institute, one of the world’s best known academics looking at shipping and greenhouse gases (GHGs), arguing that the key to mitigating emissions during market gyrations is logistics and operations management.

Did you subscribe to our daily newsletter?

It’s Free! Click here to Subscribe!

Source: ssyonline