As part of the mission to cut carbon dioxide (CO²) emissions to zero, the UK government has released its much anticipated decarbonising transport plan.
This plan sets out the government’s commitments and actions needed to decarbonise not only the maritme sector, but the entire transport system in the UK, plus details on the scale of additional reductions needed to deliver transport’s contribution to legally binding carbon budgets and achieve net zero by 2050.
It includes:
– The pathway to net zero transport in the UK
– The wider benefits net zero transport can deliver
– The principles that underpin our approach to delivering net zero transport
While the details are still light at this stage, the decarbonising transport plan does include information on the proposal for a ‘Course to Zero’ which will be published following a public consultation in 2022.
Here is an extract from the decarbonising transport plan:
” Maritime is an important challenge for decarbonisation. It reaches from small recreational crafts through to the vessels that serve as the backbone of international trade, and relies on shoreside infrastructure to service, support and facilitate operations.
“The sector has begun to decarbonise, but with new technologies now reaching the stage of demonstration and initial deployment – we must increase the pace to enable significant fleet-wide emissions reductions in the 2030s. Shipping can achieve net zero through a transition to alternative fuel powered vessels using energy from low or zero emission sources (such as ammonia produced from hydrogen created using green electricity or with the use of carbon capture and storage) or highly efficient batteries, as well as integration of ports into our decarbonised energy network and supplying the fuels of the future.
“Our ports and harbours have a role to play in achieving net zero, by decarbonising their own operations, deploying green,
alternatively powered tugs, pilot boats and port equipment from cranes to straddle carriers and reachstackers. They are critical parts of the wider transport network and will need to act to support the decarbonisation of their customers in the maritime, road and rail freight sectors, as well as the passengers travelling to and from our ferry terminals.
The UK maritime sector is important to the UK, and is estimated to have directly supported around 220,000 jobs in 2017. The
sector touches on every part of our coast, from the very north of Scotland through Northern Ireland, Wales and England and
we have a proud tradition of the sea and seafarers across the country, and many businesses both large and small that provide
jobs. Driving forward maritime decarbonisation is an opportunity to revitalise our ports and coastal communities across the UK, and one which we must take.”
Download the plan: Decarbonising Transportation Plan
