Around 90% of global trade in goods is carried by the international shipping industry, amounting to one tonne of goods, every six months, for every person in the world. Unlike other forms of transport, shipping is a both low-cost and efficient, accounting for only 2% of the final cost price. 

In the past 20 years, global seaborne trade has increased by over 30% to more than 32000 bn. tonne-miles in 2009, connecting nations, markets, businesses and people, and making it possible to buy and sell affordable food, goods and fuel on an unprecedented scale. Notwithstanding the recent contraction resulting from the global economic crisis, the world economy is expected to grow – and the shipping industry will need to respond to growing demands for its services. This must come with increased international responsibility for the consequential impact on the climate and the environment. 

The shipping industry is by no means the largest emitter of C0₂. The transport sector as a whole accounts for approximately 23% of global C0₂ emissions, with only about 4% coming from shipping. However, as the demand for shipping services mirrors increases in global trade, there is a real danger that this figure will also rise, unless joint global action is taken.

Climate change and environment goals have been widely recognised by the international shipping community, and through IMO, it has firmly committed to playing its part in reducing emissions of carbon dioxide and greenhouse gases. The IMO’s Marine Environmental Protection Committee has already developed a package of measures for reducing shipping-related C0₂ emissions, including a system of energy efficiency design indexing for newbuildings; and a template for Ship Energy Efficient Management Plan (SEEMP) for all ships. 

In order to be effective, climate change and environmental solutions need to respect the international nature of the shipping industry. Shipping is an inherently international industry, which depends on a global regulatory framework to operate efficiently. Solutions adopted at a regional or national level will endanger the competitiveness of the shipping industry, and lead to little or no improvements to climate or environment. 

Danish Shipowners – responding to climate change and environmental protection

With a 10^th of total world trade shipped by the Danish shipping companies, in one of the most modern and energy efficient fleets in the world, Denmark is an important seafaring nation. We are combining our shipping and green credentials to play a leading role in improving energy efficiency; increasing research, development and innovationtowards greener solutions; and encouraging global rulesto regulate environmental policies for the shipping sector. 

Together with the IMO, Danish shipping companies, research bodies and the Danish Government, the Danish Shipowners’ Association has developed, implemented and actively supported initiatives to reduce the impact of shipping on the climate and the environment by:

• Drafting the first Climate Charter, in 2007, to increase transparency and accountability of Denmark’s shipping companies to climate change and environment policies. The Charter requires our members to report on their fleet’s annual bunker consumption and deadweight capacity.

• Becoming a network partner in ‘Green Ships of the Future’. A unique cooperation between Danish shipping and non-shipping companies and research institutes, the 10-year programme brings together research, development, demonstration, innovation, education, training and knowledge to develop climate and environmentally friendly technology that will meet ambitious goals to reduce emissions and pollution from shipping.

• Supporting activities and initiatives by Denmark’s maritime sector to make important technological and operational improvements to increase energy efficiency. Initiatives already implemented include improved route planning, sharpened environmental education for employees, and greater efficiency of engine, hull and propeller technology.

• Committing to significantly reducing emissions of sulphur and nitrogen in the North Sea and the Baltic Sea in line with IMO targets (adopted in 2008), whilst understanding the challenges this presents to the short sea shippers.

• Working in partnership with the Danish Environmental Protection Agency to promote a framework for developing innovative environment technology so that international demands for lower sulphur emissions can be met. 

• Preparing for ratification of IMO’s Convention for the Control and Management of Ships’ Ballast Water and Sediments, which can cause dangerous environmental hazards by transporting microorganisms away from their natural inhabitant.

• Helping the maritime industry to implement IMO’s guidelines for ship recycling (2008)to scrap ships in safely and in an environmentally friendly way.