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The UK Chamber of Shipping has said that it welcomes the Low Carbon Transport strategy launched by the Transport Secretary, Lord Adonis. The strategy sets out actions for reducing transport emissions through to 2020.

“I am delighted that the strategy recognises that it is vital that action to reduce emissions from shipping should be taken on a global level and sets out the Government’s commitment to achieve those reductions through an international emissions trading mechanism” said Mark Brownrigg [pictured], director-general of the Chamber of Shipping.

The Chamber took a lead position in the international shipping industry’s response to climate change in December 2008 by advocating a global and open emissions trading scheme and, together with WWF UK, has submitted a joint paper to the Committee on Climate Change offering suggestions on the most appropriate methodology of assessing shipping emissions in the UK.

“The Government has now pledged to work with international bodies, including the relevant UN body, the International Maritime Organization, to develop a convention to deal with ship’s emissions. We look forward to working with Lord Adonis and his team on this strategy,” continued Brownrigg.

Brownrigg's response to the Low Carbon Transport strategy is in stark contrast to that of Mark Dickinson, General secretary of international trade union, Nautilus International.

In his letter to Lord Adonis, Mr Dickinson stated his disappointment at how the document has an undue emphasis on emissions reductions from shipping and the lack of recognition of the potential for the industry to deliver huge reductions in overall emissions from the UK transport system.

"We have been long concerned that water transport is consistently overlooked as a way of cutting carbon emissions and reducing congestion on the nation’s roads. There are more than 300 commercial ports around the UK and over 2,000 miles of rivers, estuaries and inland waterways capable of carrying freight, which don’t need a costly infrastructure of support services," he added.

Mr Dickinson stressed how freight carried on coastal ships and inland waterways can deliver up to 80 percent less carbon emissions than road transport and how nitrogen oxide emissions are reduced by around a third.