Chapter 7: Environmental Issues
1. Emissions from the transport sector were 14.5 MtCO2e in 2006 5 , which is approximately 25% of total greenhouse gas emissions in Scotland. Of these, the largest component is road transport. Emissions from international and domestic shipping were 2.2 MtCO2e. Just under half comes from domestic navigation, including from the oil, gas and fishing industries as well as ferries. Emissions from Scottish ferries have been estimated as between 0.22 6-0.23 7 MtCO2e.
2. The Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009 commits Scotland to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by at least 80% from 1990 levels by 2050 (including its share of those from international aviation and shipping). The Act includes an interim target of 42% by 2020, and there is also a requirement for annual targets to be set for the years 2010-2050, starting in 2010.
3. The Scottish Government's Purpose also has sustainability at its core: its sustainability purpose targets are to reduce emissions over the period to 2011, and to reduce emissions by 80% by 2050.
4. The Scottish Government published the Climate Change Delivery Plan in June 2009. The plan identifies, amongst other things, the high-level measures to meet the interim statutory targets for 2020. The size of potential emissions reductions was estimated for shipping, indicating what might also be possible for ferries:
- "By 2020, a 5-10% emissions reduction through technology measures and another 10% reduction through demand and fleet management."
5. The Scottish Government will publish its report on proposals and policies ( RPP) for meeting annual targets in September this year. The report must show how the policies contribute to reducing emissions. The effect of any change in policy as a result of this review will be reflected in the RPP.
6. In addition, the UK Low Carbon Transition Plan notes that the Scottish Ferries Review will identify options for significant emission reduction measures. As noted in Chapter 1, a high-level strategic environmental assessment has been undertaken of the issues raised in this consultation document. Options for emission reduction measures are set out in the Environmental Report which accompanies this consultation document and in the consultants' reports listed in Appendix B.
7. A detailed strategic environmental assessment will be undertaken for the draft Scottish Ferries Plan to be published and consulted on later this year. However, in order to inform the production of that plan we would welcome your views on the following questions.
Consultation Question 31: How could the reduction of CO 2 emissions from ferries be delivered to assist in meeting the potential emissions reductions set out in the Climate Change Delivery Plan?
8. For example, in terms of fleet management, one option to achieve emission reduction is to decrease vessel speed. It is estimated that, for a Type E vessel (i.e. a large ROPAX ferry) a reduction of 0.5 knots would result in some 20% less CO 2 being produced, with an increase in journey time of less than 5 minutes on a 2 hour journey.
Consultation Question 32: Operators would likely appreciate the fuel-efficiency benefits of such a measure. Would operators be willing to implement such a measure on a voluntary basis? If not, can they provide suggestions for alternate methods of delivering speed reductions?
Consultation Question 33: Would passengers support longer journey times as part of a CO 2 emissions reduction programme? If not, can they provide suggestions for alternate methods of delivering CO 2 reductions from ferries?
9. Alternatively, the Scottish Government could identify potential emissions reductions that could be achieved by operators and leave it to the operator to deliver this.