UK's Emissions Trading Scheme Expansion and the Future of Clean Shipping
Key Ideas
  • NGO T&E proposes expanding the UK Emissions Trading Scheme to include domestic and international shipping, potentially generating over $1.3 billion annually to support zero-emission marine fuels.
  • The UK government is considering the inclusion of shipping in the ETS by 2026, aiming to align with the EU ETS and drive maritime decarbonization efforts.
  • T&E suggests using ETS revenues to boost the UK's National Wealth Fund, attracting significant private investments in renewable, hydrogen-based marine fuel production.
  • Calls for harmonization of GHG pricing schemes in the maritime sector to prevent double pricing and ensure efficiency, with recommendations for involvement from international institutions like the IMF and WTO.
The UK's Labor government is gearing up to present its first budget, with NGO Transport & Environment advocating for the expansion of the UK Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) to include domestic and international shipping. T&E's proposal, backed by a letter to the Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves, highlights the potential of generating over $1.3 billion annually through ETS revenues to support the development of zero-emission marine fuels in the UK. The UK government had initiated a consultation on bringing domestic shipping under the ETS in March 2022, with plans to include the sector by 2026 in alignment with the EU ETS. T&E emphasizes the need for swift implementation to accelerate the country's transition to cleaner shipping practices. The NGO envisions utilizing ETS revenues to capitalize the UK's National Wealth Fund, attracting substantial private investments in renewable, hydrogen-based marine fuel production. This move could potentially see around 2.6 million tons of zero-emission fuel capacity operational in the UK by 2035. Simultaneously, a recent research paper by Cambridge University Press advocates for harmonizing GHG pricing schemes in the maritime sector to avoid dual pricing issues. The paper suggests involving international institutions like the IMF and WTO to facilitate regulatory cooperation and ensure efficiency in addressing shipping emissions. With the EU extending its ETS to international shipping and other countries considering similar mechanisms, there is a growing concern over potential overlaps in GHG pricing regimes. Recommendations stress the importance of international institutions in establishing equivalence between pricing mechanisms and implementing carbon border adjustments to streamline efforts in reducing maritime emissions.
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