Targeting the Environmental Sustainability of European Shipping: The Need for Innovation in Policy and Technology

• At their Summit meeting in Gothenburg in June 2001, Europe’s heads of state and government reached agreement on a European strategy for sustainable development. The social and economic dimensions of the Lisbon strategy were complemented by an environmental dimension. Thus, the Gothenburg Summit represents a breakthrough for sustainable development in the European Union (EU). The University of Gothenburg and Chalmers University of Technology made a commitment to serve, through the joint Centre for Environment and Sustainability (GMV), as a hub for research and scientific follow up of the EU sustainable development strategy. In order to fulfill this commitment, the two universities have established a European Panel for Sustainable Development (EPSD), together with Lund University. In addition, individual members from other universities and research institutes contribute to the work of the Panel. The Centre for Environment and Sustainability (GMV) in Gothenburg is the lead organization in the EPSD. The first report produced by the Panel in 2004 was “From Here to Sustainability – Is the Lisbon/Gothenburg Agenda Delivering?” This was put forward as an independent contribution from academics to the mid-term review of the Lisbon strategy for growth, competitiveness and jobs. The second report “Make the Kok-report sustainable” was produced by the EPSD as a reflection on, and a response to, the mid-term review on the Lisbon strategy chaired by the former Prime Minister of the Netherlands, Wim Kok. The third report “Towards a Smart Growth Strategy for Sustainable Development” aimed to contribute to the re-launch of the EU sustainable development strategy. It contained a critical assessment of “A Platform for Action”, the proposal for an updated strategy put forward by the European Commission. The fourth report “TAKING CHILDREN SERIOUSLY – How the EU can Invest in Early Childhood Education for a Sustainable Future” presented research on children’s interest and ability to understand questions on the social, economic and environmental dimensions of sustainable development. The present report “Targeting the Environmental Sustainability of European Shipping: The Need for Innovation in Policy and Technology” has emerged from a background survey with the aim of mapping what is being done on sustainable shipping within the European Union. A wide scope of strategic EU policy sectors and documents, including existing directives, legislation and regulations on shipping were scrutinized to describe the actual knowledge framework. The background study defines areas where new research could contribute in closing knowledge gaps, and gives a compilation of directives and policy documents concerning sustainable shipping in a European perspective. Based on a definition of sustainable shipping that include all three pillars of sustainable development, the present report presents a holistic view and strategies for achieving a sustainable shipping industry. The report provides scientifically based knowledge of various aspects that affect sustainability at sea, such as particles, greenhouse gases, ship wrecks, ship recycling, and intermodality, as well as a comprehensive overview and updates on regulations. These various areas are presented as separate chapters and solid recommendations are presented on future actions (on EU and international level) to make the shipping industry in Europe a sustainable business. The main author of the report was Prof. Kevin Cullinane, Edinburgh Napier University, UK. The separate chapters in the report were written by Lars Barregård, University of Gothenburg, Erik Fridell, Hulda Winnes, IVL Swedish Environmental Research Institute (Particle emission from ships); Hannes Johnson 1 , Chalmers University of Technology (GHG Emissions and the Energy Efficiency Gap in Shipping); Peter Domini, Stena Metall (Ship Recycling: A Global Issue); Lars Barregård, University of Gothenburg (The Health Risks Associated with the Ship Breaking Industry); Ida-Maja Hassellöv, Chalmers University of Technology (Potentially Polluting Shipwrecks); Abhinayan Basu Bal, University of Gothenburg (Sustainable Intermodal Transport with Short Sea Shipping in the EU); A number of researchers and knowledgeable persons have constituted a reference group and further contributed to the report: Katarina Gårdfeldt, Maria Svane, Dan Strömberg, and Jonas Norrman, GMV, Gothenburg; Karin Andersson, Björn Södahl, Josefin Borg, and Oliver Lindqvist, Chalmers University of Technology; Lars Göran Malmberg, Johan Boman, Johan Woxenius, and Mattias Hallquist, University of Gothenburg, Christer Forsgren, Stena Metall; Anders Carlberg, Vgregion; Carl Carlsson, Swedish Shipowners Association, and Axel Wenblad, Former GD National Board of Fisheries. Dan Strömberg, and Maria Svane, University of Gothenburg, have been invaluable during the course of the project and as editors of the publication. The report has been endorsed by the EPSD. Bo Samuelsson Chairman of EPSD

Subject headings

SAMHÄLLSVETENSKAP  -- Ekonomi och näringsliv (hsv//swe)

SOCIAL SCIENCES  -- Economics and Business (hsv//eng)

SAMHÄLLSVETENSKAP  -- Social och ekonomisk geografi -- Ekonomisk geografi (hsv//swe)

SOCIAL SCIENCES  -- Social and Economic Geography -- Economic Geography (hsv//eng)

SAMHÄLLSVETENSKAP  -- Juridik -- Juridik och samhälle (hsv//swe)

SOCIAL SCIENCES  -- Law -- Law and Society (hsv//eng)

SAMHÄLLSVETENSKAP  -- Ekonomi och näringsliv -- Företagsekonomi (hsv//swe)

SOCIAL SCIENCES  -- Economics and Business -- Business Administration (hsv//eng)

SAMHÄLLSVETENSKAP  -- Ekonomi och näringsliv -- Nationalekonomi (hsv//swe)

SOCIAL SCIENCES  -- Economics and Business -- Economics (hsv//eng)

TEKNIK OCH TEKNOLOGIER  -- Naturresursteknik -- Miljöledning (hsv//swe)

ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY  -- Environmental Engineering -- Environmental Management (hsv//eng)

TEKNIK OCH TEKNOLOGIER  -- Naturresursteknik -- Marin teknik (hsv//swe)

ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY  -- Environmental Engineering -- Marine Engineering (hsv//eng)

TEKNIK OCH TEKNOLOGIER  -- Samhällsbyggnadsteknik -- Transportteknik och logistik (hsv//swe)

ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY  -- Civil Engineering -- Transport Systems and Logistics (hsv//eng)

Keyword

Shipping

Logistics

Environmental sustainability

Publication and Content Type

vet (subject category)

rap (subject category)