UK shipping emissions 'up to six times higher than calculated' | Environment | guardian.co.uk

UK shipping emissions 'up to six times higher than calculated' | Environment | guardian.co.uk

Britain has incorrectly calculated its sea freight emissions by only including fuel sold at UK ports, report warns
Carbon emissions produced by UK shipping could be up to six times higher than calculated, says a report into the world's fleet of 30,000 commercial vessels.

The report published today by the Tyndall centre for climate change says that Britain has consistently calculated its emissions incorrectly by only including bunker fuel sold at UK ports. This is misleading, say the scientists, because the majority of vessels sailing to and from Britain refuel in places like Rotterdam in Holland, where fuel prices are significantly cheaper.

The research comes at a crucial moment because the EU is committed to raising money from a shipping levy as a way to raise up to $100bn a year for developing countries to be able adapt their economies to climate change. A modest shipping tax could raise nearly $10bn a year.