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The Council of the European Union has agreed on plans this week to set a target of reducing emissions for the maritime sector by 20 percent on 2005 levels by 2020.

In a document entitled "Council Conclusions on EU position for the Copenhagen Climate Conference (7-18 December 2009)", the European Union provides details of the conclusions reached duing this week's 2968th Environment Countil Meeting in Luxembourg on 21st October.

In the document, which will be presented at the climate change meeting in Copenhagen in December as a basis for negotiating a global agreement, the EU Council says "Global emission reduction targets for international aviation and maritime transport, consistent with a global reduction path towards meeting the 2°C objective, should be incorporated into a Copenhagen agreement and Parties should commit to work through ICAO and IMO to enable an agreement that does not lead to competitive distortions or carbon leakage, that is agreed in 2010 and approved by 2011.

"For negotiating purposes at COP 15, global reduction targets for greenhouse gas emissions from international aviation and maritime transport should be set by UNFCCC to -10 per cent for the aviation sector and to -20 per cent for the maritime sector below 2005 levels by 2020 to be implemented globally in a manner that ensures a level playing field."

The EU Council's emissions targets for the shipping and aviation sectors form part of a global target of achieving at least a 50 percent reduction of global emissions as compared with 1990 levels by 2050 and for developed countries to reduce their emissions in aggregate by 80 percent or more by 2050 and by 30 percent by 2020 as part of that goal.

"These goals require that all Parties take bold, cost effective and expeditious action so as to create the basis for a successful outcome in Copenhagen," the document said.

A number of countries including Britain, France, Ireland and the Netherlands have already indicated their support for an emission reduction of 20 percent or more below 2005 levels, whilst seafaring nations including Cyprus, Malta and Spain have been in favour of less stringent CO2 cuts.

Please click on the link below to see the conclusions of the EU Council in full.

www.consilium.europa.eu/uedocs/cms_Data/docs/pressdata/en/envir/110634.pdf