Organisations representing the shipping, port and equipment sectors have called on Member States and the European Parliament to direct revenue generated from the inclusion of the shipping sector in the EU’s Emissions Trading System (ETS) into initiatives that will contribute to maritime decarbonisation.
Organisations adding their name to a joint statement include ECSA, ESPO, CLIA, CLECAT, Sea Europe, EWABA and the eFuel Alliance. They are pressing for ETS revenues to be used to lower the price gap with clean fuels, to finance R&D and innovation and the scale-up and deployment of clean energy and technologies on board and on shore. Investments in port infrastructure, connection to the grid, energy storage and deployment of renewables should be also supported.
The joint statement also noted: ‘[T]he transition towards decarbonisation not only requires retaining and ensuring the growth of the maritime workforce, but the maritime sector at large will need updated training requirements, upskilling and reskilling to meet the EU climate targets. The earmarking of the EU ETS revenues will be vital to address this need successfully.’