Shipping improvements 'can boost air quality'

Influential EU leaders met yesterday (June 28th 2011) to discuss ways to improve the shipping sector in order to boost air quality across the continent.

European Commission vice-president Siim Kallas and climate action commissioner Connie Hedegaard are hoping to see a reduction of carbon emissions from vessels.

The EU is targeting a 20 per cent decline in overall CO2 output by 2020 and has outlined the shipping sector as an area that is in urgent need of work.

One of the main items on the agenda was discovering methods to enhance cooperation among all member states, as some countries have been dismissive of changes to the trade.

"We have recognised in our White Paper on Transport that shipping must contribute to our efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions," commented vice-president Kallas.

A number of EU states have also failed to introduce legislation to tackle highly polluting road vehicles - the European Commission has claimed - and those who have not complied have been warned they may face penalties.

Posted by Claire Manning