Call for EU Levy on NOX Emissions from Ships

 

Transport & Environment (T&E) study said the results of a new study show that the revenues would be used to fund adoption of NOx abatement measures - is the "most promising tool" for the European Union (EU) and could cut NOx emissions by as much as 70 percent.

 

The study, which was commissioned by T&E and conducted by environmental consultancies IVL and CE Delft, identifies EU policy options for regulating ship NOx emissions in the EU seas and compares them with proposed International Maritime Organization (IMO) measures.

 

In addition to a NOx levy with a fund, the study identified two other EU-level policy tools: mandatory slow steaming of ships (with a levy and fund as an alternative compliance option) and a stand-alone levy on emitted NOx.

 

The study, launched at an event in the European Parliament, comes in light of the ongoing failure by the Council to agree ambitious revisions to the National Ceilings Directive (NEC) governing land-based emissions, including NOX, thus putting greater pressure on member states to address ship NOx where abatement costs are far lower.

 

“Ship NOx emissions affect all EU member states, whether along the Baltic, around the North Sea or the Mediterranean. This study provides a solution for all EU seas,” said Faig Abbasov, clean shipping officer at T&E.

 

The study compares ship NOx abatement options and their associated costs for the shipping sector with EU-level measures implemented either on their own or in addition to the designation of Nitrogen Emissions Control Areas (NECAs) under the IMO.

 

NOx contributes to particle and ozone formation and also causes acidification and eutrophication when deposited on land, lakes and seas.