Carbon Emissions FAQ
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Q: What is the expected trend in carbon dioxide emissions from the shipping industry?
A: Because of its economic and environmental advantages over other transportation modes, the reliance on ocean shipping to transport raw materials and manufactured goods internationally is expected to rise. The U.N.'s International Maritime Organization (IMO) has estimated that without changes in current operating efficiencies and with increasing trade volumes, total ship emissions of CO2 will increase. However, introduction of new technology, changes to ship and engine design and improvements to operating procedures will ensure a much slower rate of growth for CO2 emissions. Forecasting exactly how much CO2 emissions will be attributable to liner shipping in future years is subject to considerable uncertainty due in part to variations in international trade volumes, but more importantly due to continuing improvements in vessel efficiency that have not yet been quantified, and the effect of expected global CO2 rules to be developed under the IMO.
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