Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the Clean Maritime Plan, published 11 July 2019, whether the zero-emission shipping target applies to international or domestic shipping.

In June 2019, the UK became the first major economy to legislate for net zero emissions, setting a target for 2050. Emissions for UK domestic shipping fall within this target. Although emissions from international shipping and aviation are not formally included within the legislation at this point, it is essential that these sectors play their role. To ensure we are on the right trajectory for net zero emissions across the economy, we will continue to leave ‘headroom’ for international shipping and aviation emissions in our carbon budgets. Government continues to be of the view that action to tackle emissions from these sectors must be done globally to be effective. The UK will continue to take a leadership role at the IMO, pushing for the most ambitious measures to deliver the vision, and emission reduction targets, of the IMO GHG Strategy.

The Clean Maritime Plan sets out aspirational goals for the sector, not mandatory targets. These goals encompass both international and domestic shipping in UK waters. Mandatory targets will be considered further in relation to incentives for zero emission shipping, on which Government will launch a Call for Evidence in 2020.