Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her Department is taking to provide certainty to industry in relation to the expansion of the UK Emissions Trading Scheme to maritime.

In November, the UK Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) Authority published the main Authority Response to the 2024 consultation detailing how the UK ETS will expand to the maritime sector. This main Authority Response included final policy details ahead of implementation next year. The Authority is directly engaging with the sector to ensure the details are understood, including by hosting a webinar which will be an opportunity for stakeholders to ask questions.

We are working closely with the sector as part of the UK Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) Authority to ensure that maritime operators will be sufficiently prepared to join UK ETS from July next year.

The Environment Agency, who will regulate the majority of operators, are running a voluntary onboarding period from next month which will help the sector engage with the ETS ahead of July and give operators extra time to get familiar with how it works.

Additionally, the Authority will allow for ‘double-surrender’ for maritime operators for the first two scheme years, giving maritime operators extra time and further opportunity to familiarise themselves with UK ETS and the digital systems.

Guidance will be provided to address sector-specific requirements and support participants to meet their UK ETS obligations.