Britain urges net zero shipping emissions by 2050

Britain, host of this year’s COP26 climate change summit, called Monday for net zero global shipping emissions by 2050 and the launch of non-polluting commercial vessels by 2025.

The UK government wants to “chart a course” for cleaner shipping, Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said on the first day of London’s international shipping week maritime event.

The zero target needs agreement from the International Maritime Organisation, the Department for Transport added in a statement, noting that shipping currently accounts for three percent of global emissions.

“As a maritime nation with a rich history, and host of COP26 this year, we are proud to be at the forefront of the greener era for maritime, charting an international course for the future of clean shipping,” Shapps said in the statement.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s Conservative administration, which also seeks to reduce Britain’s carbon emissions to net zero by 2050, will in November host the COP26 United Nations climate summit in Glasgow.