UK eyes 80pc maritime emissions cuts by 2040

Market: Biofuels, Emissions, Oil products
26/03/25

The UK is aiming to reduce fuel lifecycle greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in its domestic shipping by 30pc by 2030 and 80pc by 2040 compared with 2008 levels, reaching zero by 2050.

The goals are "intentionally ambitious", the UK government said, and will be supported by both domestic and international policy measures as set out in its new maritime decarbonisation strategy.

The first phase of the strategy "will rely on existing IMO regulation" to improve vessel efficiency this decade, the government said. The second phase will centre on larger vessels.

One key policy in the strategy is pricing maritime emissions, which the government expects to do through a combination of pushing for the IMO to introduce a global shipping GHG levy from 2027, and the government's existing plan to extend the UK emissions trading scheme (ETS) to domestic maritime emissions from next year.

The government will "work to understand how these schemes interact, and to avoid any double charging of emissions", it said. It is still to consider the feedback to its recent consultation on technical elements of the sector's inclusion in the UK ETS, it added.

The government also intends to regulate maritime fuel use, both by pushing for IMO-level standards this year on the GHG intensity of fuels, and implementing domestic UK fuel regulations on which it plans to consult in 2026.

Calls for evidence were also published alongside the strategy on both potential requirements for zero or near-zero at-berth emissions, with a formal consultation on this planned next year, and on measures to support the decarbonisation of small vessels and targeted maritime sub-sectors.

For the latter, the government expects to focus on vessels "with a clear route to decarbonisation". "Measures for harder-to-decarbonise vessels may not be required until the mid-to-late 2030s," it said.

Maritime emissions accounted for 8pc of the UK's transport emissions in 2022, despite having declined by 30pc compared with 1990 levels, government data show.

By Victoria Hatherick

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