Keywords Sustainable shipping · Maritime transport · CO 2 emissions mitigation ·
EU ETS
10.1 Introduction
Two landmark agreements adopted in 2015 are the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable
Development under the framework of the United Nations Sustainable Development
Summit and the Paris Agreement on climate change under the auspices of the United
Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). None of the
17 sustainable development goals (SDGs) is dedicated to the thematic area of
transport. In elaborating the goals, the international community recognized that by
integrating and mainstreaming transport considerations into a range of SDGs, its
cross-sectoral nature would be a critical enabler of most of them (Benamara et al.
2019).
1
Maritime transport is an economic sector in its own right. With 80% of international merchandise trade by volume and over two thirds by value in 2017 (UNCTAD
2018), it is central to the sustainability agenda. Maritime transport links almost all
countries’ relevant supply chains, supports international production processes,
carries international trade, and provides access to the global markets. In addition,
many sectors and industries are intimately linked to marine transport: marine
equipment manufacturing, marine auxiliary services (e.g., insurance, banking,
brokering), fisheries, tourism, ship building and demolition, and offshore energy
(Benamara et al. 2019).
Maritime transport can be seen as environmentally friendly relative to other
modes of transportation when measured in ton-miles (weight per distance traveled).
In conjunction with its strategic economic and social function of supporting international trade, it can be viewed as an important sustainable development enabler
(Benamara et al. 2019). Unsustainable transport patterns, however, are linked to
numerous social costs in the form of air and marine pollution, GHG emissions,
resource depletion, and biodiversity loss, among others.
Sustainability in maritime transport involves, inter alia, the ability to provide
transportation infrastructure and services that also further the multiple dimensions of
sustainable development, for instance, safety, accessibility, social inclusivity, reliability, fuel efficiency, affordability, clean environment, reductions in GHGs, and
climate resilience. Figure 10.1 provides an overview of the intersection between the
three pillars of sustainable development as they relate to the marine transport sector.
1 This chapter draws heavily on Benamara et al. (2019) and UNCTAD (2018).
154
A. Papandreou et al.
EU ETS
10.1 Introduction
Two landmark agreements adopted in 2015 are the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable
Development under the framework of the United Nations Sustainable Development
Summit and the Paris Agreement on climate change under the auspices of the United
Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). None of the
17 sustainable development goals (SDGs) is dedicated to the thematic area of
transport. In elaborating the goals, the international community recognized that by
integrating and mainstreaming transport considerations into a range of SDGs, its
cross-sectoral nature would be a critical enabler of most of them (Benamara et al.
2019).
1
Maritime transport is an economic sector in its own right. With 80% of international merchandise trade by volume and over two thirds by value in 2017 (UNCTAD
2018), it is central to the sustainability agenda. Maritime transport links almost all
countries’ relevant supply chains, supports international production processes,
carries international trade, and provides access to the global markets. In addition,
many sectors and industries are intimately linked to marine transport: marine
equipment manufacturing, marine auxiliary services (e.g., insurance, banking,
brokering), fisheries, tourism, ship building and demolition, and offshore energy
(Benamara et al. 2019).
Maritime transport can be seen as environmentally friendly relative to other
modes of transportation when measured in ton-miles (weight per distance traveled).
In conjunction with its strategic economic and social function of supporting international trade, it can be viewed as an important sustainable development enabler
(Benamara et al. 2019). Unsustainable transport patterns, however, are linked to
numerous social costs in the form of air and marine pollution, GHG emissions,
resource depletion, and biodiversity loss, among others.
Sustainability in maritime transport involves, inter alia, the ability to provide
transportation infrastructure and services that also further the multiple dimensions of
sustainable development, for instance, safety, accessibility, social inclusivity, reliability, fuel efficiency, affordability, clean environment, reductions in GHGs, and
climate resilience. Figure 10.1 provides an overview of the intersection between the
three pillars of sustainable development as they relate to the marine transport sector.
1 This chapter draws heavily on Benamara et al. (2019) and UNCTAD (2018).
154
A. Papandreou et al.