‘Mixed progress’ leading to uphill battle in EU’s emission reduction ambitions, report warns

Although Europe’s maritime industry has made progress in cutting energy use and reducing certain pollutants, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions as well as biodiversity conservation remain a ‘gargantuan’ challenge, a new report has stressed.

According to the second edition of the European Maritime Transport Environment Report published in early February 2025 by the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) and the European Environment Agency (EEA), increased transport demand for the maritime sector has introduced additional environmental impact on the atmosphere and marine ecosystems but the progress toward minimizing that impact is still moving ‘at a snail’s pace.’

The report highlights that shipping of cargo, containers, commercial fishing, tankers and cruise ships as well as port activities are a ‘massive’ contributor to a plethora of ecological challenges with the whole sector accounting for 3-4% of the EU’s overall carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions.

In fact, in 2022 only, CO2 emissions from ships increased by 8.5%, i.e. 137.5 million tonnes. To add to this, carbon emissions from cruise ships in Europe alone were nearly 20% higher in 2022 than they were in 2019, an August 2024 study by the Transport & Environment (T&E) showed.

At the same time, as per the report, methane (CH4) emissions—primarily from liquefied natural gas (LNG)-powered ships—have doubled between 2018 and 2023, representing 26% of the sector’s total methane emissions in 2022.

Cutting down on air pollutants like sulfur oxides (SOx) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) is as-of-yet a colossal challenge, the EEA and EMSA maintain. NOx emissions, in particular, are believed to have increased by 10% across the EU between 2015 and 2023, with sharp rises in the Atlantic (+33%) and Arctic (+32%) regions, and 8% in the Mediterranean.

There is one positive note: the organizations have found that there has been a 70% reduction in SOx emissions since 2014 based on 2023 model data.

This is said to primarily be the result of the Sulphur Emission Control Areas (SECAs): the one established in the Baltic and North Seas and the upcoming Mediterranean SECA which will be effective from May 2025. The regulation limits sulfur content in marine fuel, and, combined with technological advancements, has contributed to cleaner air quality in port cities and coastal areas, the report spotlighted.

Beyond air emissions, water pollution from vessels continues to be a burning issue. Marine litter from fisheries and shipping is approximated to have halved over the last decade but remains too complex to tackle ‘more efficiently’. What is more, container loss, including those containing plastic pellets, is also a considerable source of sea pollution.

The report further stressed that while the number of detected oil spills had been decreasing in previous years, there was a 58% rise in possible oil pollution incidents in 2023 compared to 2022. As explained, the North Sea, the southwest of the Iberian Peninsula, and the Mediterranean were designated as high-risk areas, largely due to dense maritime traffic and offshore oil and gas operations.

As per the European entities’ 2023 findings, ballast water is a ‘leading’ cause of invasive species introduction, with shipping responsible for 60% of non-indigenous species (NIS) and 56% of invasive alien species (IAS) introductions in European waters.

Although the International Ballast Water Management Convention has been in effect since 2017, only 31% of ships held a ballast water management certificate in 2022, the report shared.

Despite the EU’s push for greener shipping, the transition to alternative fuels and zero-emission technologies is somewhat slow, the report proposed.

FuelEU Maritime, which took effect on January 1, 2025, mandates a gradual reduction in the greenhouse gas intensity of ship fuels—with a 2% decrease required by 2025, 6% by 2030, and an 80% reduction by 2050. The extension of the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS) to the shipping sector is also anticipated to drive investment in low-carbon fuels.

However, the availability and adoption of certain alternative fuels act as key barriers, EEA and EMSA have underscored. Per the report, while at least 44 EU ports now offer Onshore Power Supply (OPS), only a limited number of ships can connect to these facilities.

The adoption of alternative fuel sources such as biofuels and methanol have seen an upward trend. The number of methanol-powered ships, in particular, has been on the rise. Hydrogen, ammonia and synthetic fuels offer promise, the report emphasized, but face challenges like production, scalability, storage, distribution, cost, and safety concerns.

Moreover, with a potential seafarer skill gap looming over the shipping industry, a supply of workers trained on new decarbonization technologies will be needed in the immediate future, together with ‘harmonized’ international guidelines.

The EEA and EMSA have also warned that, without accelerated action, maritime transport emissions could jump by 14% by 2030 and 34% by 2050, with 2015 as the baseline year.

That said, initiatives like green shipping corridors—the number of which has been on a steady spike recently—as well as more stringent emissions stipulations and increased investment in research and development could aid the industry in staying on track with its decarbonization ambitions.

“Continued action and increased innovation are needed to accelerate the progress made towards more sustainable maritime transport in Europe – across all its operations – to reach the ambitious targets of the European Green Deal while preserving the competitiveness of the sector,” Maja Markovčić Kostelac, EMSA’s Executive Director, concluded.

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