https://arab.news/pyzyy
The global race toward decarbonization is accelerating, as more than 140 countries — collectively responsible for nearly 90 percent of global gross domestic product and emissions — have committed to achieving net-zero carbon emissions by mid-century. But the pathways, mechanisms and economic implications of this transformation remain deeply uneven. Nowhere is this asymmetry more visible than in sectors like shipping, aviation and road transport, where the pace of regulatory ambition often surpasses the realities of technological readiness.
Shipping, in particular, has become an unlikely but prominent target of international climate policy. Despite being the most carbon-efficient mode of freight transport, the sector finds itself grappling with mounting compliance burdens, volatile market mechanisms and infrastructure gaps. This is a paradox that risks not only penalizing efficiency but also distorting the logic of global trade.
Since January 2024, the EU has incorporated maritime emissions into its Emissions Trading System — a monumental shift in regulatory design. Vessels calling at EU ports must now purchase allowances covering 40 percent of their verified carbon dioxide emissions, a share that will rise to 70 percent in 2025 and 100 percent by 2026. With carbon prices hovering around €70 ($79) per tonne, the cost implications are profound.
