Europe’s Air Becomes More and More Expensive: The Integration of Maritime Transport into the European Emission Trading Scheme

Europas Geduld mit der internationalen Seeschifffahrtsorganisation neigt sich dem Ende zu: Da bisher auf internationaler Ebene eine Einigung auf eine verbindliche Reduktion der Treibhausgasemissionen des Schifffahrtssektors nicht in Sicht ist, plant die Europäische Union die Einführung eigener Maßnahmen. Die wahrscheinliche Option ist der Einbezug in das europäische Emissionshandelssystem, so wie es bereits für den Flugverkehr seit Januar 2012 der Fall ist. Dies würde die internationale Seeschifffahrt vor finanzielle, technische, und administrative Herausforderungen stellen - nicht nur in Europa. Ein solches Handelssystem wirft darüber hinaus, je nach Anwendungsbereich und Ausgestaltung, rechtliche Fragen im Hinblick auf seine Vereinbarkeit mit Völkerrecht auf, insbesondere bezüglich Vorschriften des Seerechts, des internationalen Handelsrechts und der Legalität extraterritorialer Maßnahmen.

There is a growing public awareness of CO2-emissions and they are now firmly on the agenda of the European Union (EU) and other international organisations. The basis of more than 95 % of world trade, international shipping is a comparatively energy-efficient means of transport, accounting for only 2.7 % of global emissions. Ships carry substantially more cargo than overland means of transport and produce considerably fewer emissions. Though, with a predicted 2- to 3-fold increase in air emissions by the year 2050, ship traffic has come into the focus of the regulators. 
 The issue has been on the agenda of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) for quite a while. Responsibility within the IMO lies with the Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC), yet a binding instrument, such as an emission trading system, is not in sight. Adoption and entry into force on the international level is, as usual, a lengthy process. Further, the introduction of a market-based mechanism at the international level gives rise to argument, especially from emerging economies. Given this situation, a market-based instrument implemented at EU-level, comprising in particular the integration of shipping emissions within the European Union Emission Trading Scheme (EU ETS) is, therefore, the more likely, and swifter, approach.
Discussed in this article are the mechanisms and challenges of integrating maritime transport into the EU ETS (I.). The relevant aspects and legal features of an EU ETS for ship traffic are presented. In section 1 the scope of such a system and its key design features are considered. In section 2 the compatibility of an EU ETS with international law is explored. The core issue in this context is whether such a system constitutes an extraterritorial measure and, if so, is it legal. In order to be a successful model, an EU ETS needs to comply with the law of the sea, international environmental law and international trade law. The alternative to an EU ETS would be the introduction of marketbased measures at the international level. Presented in this article are the developments on the IMO level and an outline of the regulatory issues on the international level (II.). The concluding remarks provide an outlook with regard to the probable developments (III.).



Copyright: © Lexxion Verlagsgesellschaft mbH
Quelle: EurUp 04/2012 (August 2012)
Seiten: 12
Preis: € 32,00
Autor: Dr. Bettina Enderle
Dr. Nora-Phoebe Erler
 
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