Date: July 31
The European Union (EU) has taken a significant step towards a more sustainable future with the approval of new regulations to decarbonise the maritime sector. This movement is part of the 'FuelEU Maritime' initiative, which seeks to increase the demand and systematic use of renewable and low-carbon fuels.
The maritime sector has been identified as a key area for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. The new regulation aims to guarantee the proper functioning of maritime traffic and avoid distortions in the internal market, while reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
The regulation proposes a series of measures to ensure that the intensity of greenhouse gas emissions from the fuels used by the maritime transport sector gradually decreases. These emissions are expected to be reduced by 2% in 2025 and up to 80% by 2050.
In addition, the regulations contemplate the exclusion of fossil fuels from the certification process. It also establishes the obligation for passenger ships and container ships to cover their energy needs with electricity when they are moored in the main ports of the EU from 2030.
Another important provision of the regulations is a voluntary accrual mechanism. This mechanism will allow ships to accumulate their compliance balances with another or other ships, in such a way that the total average of the greenhouse gas emission intensity limits can be shared.
The regulations also contain exceptions limited in time to give specific treatment to the outermost regions, small islands and areas economically highly dependent on their connectivity. In addition, it determines that the income generated by the application of the Regulation must be used for projects in support of the decarbonization of the maritime sector, with a reinforced transparency mechanism.
Once formally adopted by the Council, the new Regulation will be published in the Official Journal of the European Union after the summer and will enter into force twenty days after its publication.
This is an important step in the fight against climate change and shows the European Union's commitment to sustainability and environmental protection. The maritime sector has a crucial role to play in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and this regulation is a significant step in the right direction.
Source: MasContainer
